According to the Hollywood Reporter, two time Tony-winning actress Jennifer Ehle has been cast as Catelyn. Here is the report:
Jennifer Ehle has been added to the pilot “Game of Thrones.”
On “Thrones,” HBO’s adaptation of the George R.R. Martin fantasy-book series, Ehle will play Catelyn Stark, Ned Stark’s (Sean Bean) wife who originally was betrothed to Ned’s older brother. When the older brother was killed, she fulfilled her duty by marrying Ned and securing the alliance between their two houses.
Winter Is Coming: I had heard rumblings of this casting about a week ago. I didn’t post anything because the rumors were a bit unsubstantiated. Turns out they were correct. A very solid choice for Catelyn, in my opinion. Looks wise and talent wise. No, she’s not Gillian Anderson, but I think she might be a better choice. She obviously has the talent and she is more of an unknown. So instead of seeing Agent Scully, we will just see Catelyn.
This was part of the news that GRRM was planning on spilling at the Worldcon, but he hints that he has more. We will just have to wait and find out what that may be.
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489 Comments
Wow! She was great as Lizzie Bennet, I'm sure she will be great as Catelyn, though she's not exactly how I pictured Catelyn.
AnonymousQuote Reply
Great casting choice.
BubbaQuote Reply
I'm intrigued. Not seen her since Pride and Prejudice. Might dig out my mum's DVDs to have another look at her.
AnonymousQuote Reply
Ehle is a great casting, a BAFTA and two-time Tony Award-winning actress. Now that I see what she has done, it seems perfect.
That's one correct mark for my prediction, the others being casting info for Bran, Robb and Dany. Fingers crosses.
C'mon WiC, any other rumblings you're holding out on? I don't care how unsubstantiated they are, the scuttlebutt will give use something to talk about until Hollywood Reporter or GRRM fills us in. :P
SparqQuote Reply
Doesn't look like Catelyn to me, sorry.
AnonymousQuote Reply
Amazing casting choice – again. I loved her in the Pride and Prejudice miniseries, and she was amazing in the hungarian film Sunshine, in which she played a very strong character not unlike Catelyn. I can't wait to see how the dynamic between her and Sean Bean's Ned will play out.
GainesQuote Reply
Great News….. but i guess Mr. Martin give us another hint.. " (I will be good, I will, I will)'
sound like Sansa to me
What you guys think?
Quiet WolfQuote Reply
Well, there are other pics of her on GRRMs not-a-blog, all of which are stunningly different from the one provided by WiC… which means that we have an actress here who can not only act but change like a chameleon as well. Which is very good, in my opinion, and especially needed for Catelyn's role, (if you know what I mean).
RQuote Reply
Sparq: Yeah, I guess I should just throw everything out there. I didn't want to spoil my perfect record though! ;)
Seriously, the rumor I had heard was very unsubstantiated. Was just an email from someone who runs a Jennifer Ehle fan blog saying they had heard a rumor that Ehle MAY have been cast in an HBO production. Didn't even know which one.
So you can understand my hesitation in posting it. Especially since it seems any rumor I post spreads pretty quickly until all ASOIAF fans know about it and think it is true.
WinterIsComingQuote Reply
Hairstyle does a lot to a person's overall appearance. She will look properly Catelyn in the series, I have no doubt.
SergioCQHQuote Reply
Don't judge her by her photo here on WiC's blog, take a look at Martin's chosen pictures of her, she's perfect. Has the grace of a noble lady, I would say.
AnonymousQuote Reply
She's not yet 'my' Catelyn in my head, looks-wise, but acting-wise, I'm sure she'll be great. Catelyn is the character I felt strongest about, that they needed to get a very talented actress for, so I'm happy to trade in the exact look for someone who has the talent. Getting both would probably have been pretty much impossible, as it may well be for most parts.
Having said that, I'm pretty sure that once I've seen her in an episode or two, she will start to look like Catelyn for me anyhow!
SilverstarQuote Reply
yes, doesn't look like Cat to me either but much better than agent Scully, I think
AnonymousQuote Reply
Ok, I got a new photo. One in which, I think, she looks very Catelyn-like.
WinterIsComingQuote Reply
@Quiet Wolf
Great connection. GRRM last post had this line:
(Yes, I am a monster of inhuman cruelty)
Which is Catelyn related.
(I will be good, I will, I will)
Sounds like something Sansa would say. Or Arya/Bran after being scolded.
@WinterIsComing
Yeah the problem is that us fans see rumours as facts and run with it (see the Tunesia thing).
That being said, speculation posts might not even be needed, with the amount of data now forthcoming.
SparqQuote Reply
After we watch one season of the TV series, all of the actors will become the characters in our minds.
Well, that'll be true for me anyway.
SergioCQHQuote Reply
BTW, for those that don't know, her last name is pronounced "EEE-lee".
WinterIsComingQuote Reply
Love the new picture. Hadn't seen it before.
SergioCQHQuote Reply
@ Sparq
Sansa actually say that, almost word to word, to Cersei after…after..errrrr…(damnit)..you now…OPEN THAT F@#% BIG MOUTH of hers…and before she sand letters to Robb and Cat
Quiet WolfQuote Reply
Never heard of her, which is brilliant – I love the unknown quantity. Keep 'em coming.
StalinskiQuote Reply
BTW, great picture WiC.
Quiet WolfQuote Reply
Great choice of actress! She was very good as And I would not call her an unknown by any means! As for Catelyn-not Catelyn like. Hair stile make wonders for actresses: just google her and then just click on the "pictures found" you'll find that she has done many, many different looks in her carrer.
RichardQuote Reply
She's perfect.
RQuote Reply
She looks how i envisioned Catelyn. She isnt drop dead gorgeous, but she has nobility and grace and can likely do warm, cold and bitchy; which is what you want from Catelyn really.
Still holding out for a big name Cersei though
LegionQuote Reply
I think she'll be excellent. She's a talented actress.
I still can't believe this is only the pilot though. Jeebus, please, let HBO pick the series up.
AnonymousQuote Reply
She doesn't match my mental image of Catelyn. I have sincere doubts she has the requisite height, musculature, acting ability or raw lesbian appeal that a Lucy Lawless might bring to this show.
AnonymousQuote Reply
If you hear any more rumours maybe you should post them rather than keep em to yourself, they might just be true ;)
AnonymousQuote Reply
WiC, I have an idea for you. Every few days, make a post of all the farfetched, unsubstantiated rumors you've been sent. That way, if most or all of them turn out to be false, no one will call you out on it.
SergioCQHQuote Reply
Another great move, it seems. I'm glad there's so much excitement about Ehle and her skills – enough to fully convince me, as I'm admittedly not familiar enough with her work. It's impressive how the pilot is shaping up, it really is.
MarkoQuote Reply
the casting guys deserve the biggest pat on the back ever
AnonymousQuote Reply
I couldn't be more please with J Ehle … IMO with the help of the period pieces she's been in, she has Catelyn's looks down-pat … I see it … Can someone photoshop a pic of her and sean bean, would be nice to see what they would look like together
it's really great to see everything slowly coming together with casting, crew, location, dates, etc. with all the fans and the buildup of excitement makes me really wish that i was there for the filming … and its just a PILOT!!! lol
LadyNYC74Quote Reply
@Anonymous 9:18 AM – I nearly fell out of my chair laughing at your post. Lucy Lawless?!?!
Oh my sides hurt.
littlebootsQuote Reply
Thank the Seven! She looks so much more like Cat than Jillian Andersen imo.
(I'll be good, I will, I will)
Anyone with the first name of Will (or Bill or William) up for the role of Jaime?
LordnedsheadQuote Reply
…and now we get to see her naked!!! YEAH!! :D hot hot.
AnonymousQuote Reply
@Anon
Raw lesbian appeal? Catelyn? I dare you to put those two in the same sentence.
AnonymousQuote Reply
Excellent casting, and good marketing to boot. The BBC's "Pride and Prejudice" miniseries was not only quite good, but has also become a big cult phenomenon among Austen fans – it was referenced heavily in "Bridget Jones' Diary," and elsewhere. This will bring in some viewers who might not otherwise have been interested.
Hmm. Maybe a cameo for Colin Firth as Brandon Stark?
MaxwellQuote Reply
She's perfect. I have never seen her act, everything Jane Austen-related bores me to death, but looks-wise, she is as close as possible to how I pictured Catelyn in the books.
And in some of the photos, she actually resembles one of the portrait paintings of Catelyn.
EmpedoclesQuote Reply
Colin Firth in a cameo would get the Austen fans in for sure.
He's likely a bit big for a cameo nowadays those.
LegionQuote Reply
This is very inspired casting. Ehle was fantastic in the A&E miniseries of Pride and Prejudice. I'm sure she'll be a wonderful Cat.
I am more and more convinced with every casting announcement that there is NO WAY this series isn't getting picked up.
FalconGK81Quote Reply
Never thought of her to play the part but I'm thrilled you did!!!!!!!!
LaudaQuote Reply
I wonder is Ayra has been cast yet? I want to know who will be playing all the children? I wonder if they'll be total unknowns- local children?
AnonymousQuote Reply
Great talent but not how I picture Catelyn. I don't know where people get this not-that-beautiful thing, Catelyn *is* beautiful, in a noble highborn way. Ehle's very talented though, she just looks wrong. This is more docile housewife Catelyn than noble lady Catelyn.
AnonymousQuote Reply
Good news. I'm sure the rest of the pilot cast will be falling into place soon.
dizzyQuote Reply
The children will likely be complete unknowns or UK bit part actors; the type who've appeared as Chavs in The Bill, Doctors or Casualty.
As i've said before, my money is still on a big name being Cersei. I also wouldn't mind seeing someone experienced being cast as Lord Commander Moermont, simply because it's likely everyone else on the Wall will be unknowns and young and could likely do with a 'firm hand' to carry the odd scene.
LegionQuote Reply
Cat is supposed to be much more beautiful. I hope the pics I have seen do not do her Justice.
AnonymousQuote Reply
Sorry for the double post, randomly saw an advert for a US show called Moonlight, which has been cancelled. Woman in it called Sophia Myles, also been in Doctor Who.
She is my perfect Cersei, regardless of the name value not being that big and what I literally just said.
LegionQuote Reply
Sophia Myles was excellent in Doctor Who, was only watching that episode last night (perhaps this is an omen, as i watched the 'family of blood' episodes the night before was harry lloyd announced as Viserys!) I also wouldn't mind seeing Natalie Dormer play Cersei. She was Anne Boleyn in the Tudors, a role which required her to play a seductress, a protective mother, an abandoned wife, and to slowly have a breakdown, ie. just like Cersei. She played the part brilliantly. though finding a man to look similar enough to be the twin of either of these women would be difficult as both are very feminine. Also dunno if dormer is pretty enough, and both are quite young.
here is dormer as a blonde:
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm3405290240/nm1754059
AnonymousQuote Reply
Dormer is very pretty……but she look almost too nice to be Cersei imo. Love to her aboard as something else though. Infact, I think she'd be a good Margery as she still looks very young.
LegionQuote Reply
Cersei needs to be a very tall, and mindblowingly beautiful woman in her thirties.
She can't be played by any of those prettyish girls.
AnonymousQuote Reply
Dormer is okay, but she looks way too young to be Cersei – especially when compared to Dinklage (who is supposed to be younger as Tyrion).
littlebootsQuote Reply
@Legion:
Sophia Myles?
Saw her in Moonlight I don't think she fits Cersei, she is to small and cute and far to nice.
Somehow I did not picture Cat as a great beauty anyway, so Ehle fits perfectly for me.
AbendsternQuote Reply
Lookswise, Diane Kruger is Cersei, but I have no idea if she has the acting ability to pull off the role.
AnonymousQuote Reply
dormer is too young imo and sophia myles is too far off the cersei look, she looks to docile and stuff, not my cersei at all.
ptzQuote Reply
I would be upset if they used Kruger for Cersei. I don't think she can act very well at all. Pretty woman, just lacking skill-wise.
I wouldn't mind Robin Wright-Penn…although I think she's a tad old for the part now. But I think she has the talent needed.
littlebootsQuote Reply
I don't think she'd be particularly good in the role. I just think that she looks right.
AnonymousQuote Reply
Brother/sister twins (i.e., fraternal twins) don't have to look identical–they are no different from normal brothers and sisters other than originating as eggs that are fertilized simultaneously. Surely you know some very "feminine" looking women with perfectly male-looking brothers.
And Ehle is a very good actress, although I'm a little disappointed. I thought she rather spoiled Lizzie Bennet by simpering through most of "Pride and Prejudice" (but of course that was a long time ago, and hopefully she has improved since then); and she has a very delicate biscuit-face, and not the kind of stern, proud bone structure I'd pictured for Catelyn. But perhaps I'm too influenced by the later part of the story in my imaginings.
AnonymousQuote Reply
For those who think Kruger and Robin Wright Penn, think AMBER VALETTA!!!
She's got the same look, the right age and in addition she has green eyes…
AnonymousQuote Reply
Sorry, that's Valletta with two ll, pardon.
http://www.famouswhy.com/pictures/people/amber_valletta.jpg
AnonymousQuote Reply
WiC, I was wondering whether you're still keeping taps on those others series HBO might pick up.
I remember that at the start of this blog there was lots of talk about the other series HBO was interested in.
Ser NilesQuote Reply
Diane Kruger cannot act. She is extremely pretty but every time I see her on the screen, I get the same feeling. A pretty girl but with nothing special in terms of personality. Maybe it's just the roles she has had to act but I don't know, there's something lacking in her that I cannot really describe very well.
I have no idea who could do Cersei, all the actresses I can think of are too expensive.
EmpedoclesQuote Reply
No thanks on Valetta. She's not done anything in my opinion to show she has any skill other than looking pretty.
littlebootsQuote Reply
Cersei is a difficult cast.
I still think Myles could do it, especially seen as they do seem to be going the all english route after all.
Amber Valletta looks right, but she's never done anything by the looks of things that shows she can carry a show, and Cersei really does need to hold her own and carry scenes later in the series, so she really does need to be good
LegionQuote Reply
I want PAUL BETTANY
http://janflora.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/2009_inkheart_010.jpg
as Jaime
with Amber Valletta as his twin
http://imstars.aufeminin.com/stars/fan/amber-valletta/amber-valletta-20070630-277351.jpg
And this was my last pro Amber post.
Sorry about this ;)
AnonymousQuote Reply
Paul Bettany went to my school.
Entirely irrelevent to anything whatsoever, but I just thought I'd throw that in :P
SilverstarQuote Reply
Jennifer Ehle is Rosmary Harris' daughter. Interesting tibit.
dizzyQuote Reply
Bettany is a great actor, so while I wouldn't pick him actively for Jamie, I wouldn't complain if it happened.
Not as good looking as I expect Jamie to be though (gayest thing ive said today – box checked)
LegionQuote Reply
I like the idea of Bettany in the show – but not as Jaime.
littlebootsQuote Reply
(the Amber one Anon)
Just thought Bettany and Valletta looked like twins.
I think we should not forget they are supposedly looking almost the same.
AnonymousQuote Reply
Personally, I could live with the twins not looking exactly the same. I'd rather have talented actors then people who looked the part. While Bettany qualifies as talented, Valletta does not in my opinion.
littlebootsQuote Reply
Does it say in the books anywhere they look hugely alike? Or is more just passing similarities like most inter-gender twins past puberty?
LegionQuote Reply
I think the idea is that Cersei's real motivation for her incestuous relationship with Jaime is that he's practically her mirror image, so it's the closest she can get to having a relationship with herself.
There is no way that they are going to get actors for Cersei and Jaime who look like they actually could be twins. Close enough and good actors is pretty much what we can hope for.
SilverstarQuote Reply
Okay, Cersei: beautiful, preferably blonde and British. Must also have acting chops and be okay with nudity. To have played a bitch before would be helpful. I'm thinking the first person Nina Gold would have called would surely have been this woman http://www.topnews.in/files/sienna_miller.jpg
Hunter TremayneQuote Reply
Yeah, I seem to recall Cersei saying something along the lines of "mirror image." But even so, I doubt we'll see that.
littlebootsQuote Reply
I think having the same color hair, eyes and skin tone, while having SOME similarity in features is enough for the twins. Most of this can be achieved pretty easily.
I do think GRRM described them as very twin-like… but its going to be next to impossible to get the quality of actors we want, while making sure that they look like they could be twins. We as fans need to have a little flexibility and worry more about them getting the highest quality actors that fit the role as best as can be… and not worry about matching every little detailed description by GRRM.
The ChrisQuote Reply
Good god please no to Sienna Miller.
How about Naomi Watts? I don't know how old she is though and probably too busy doing movies.
littlebootsQuote Reply
Can't see Naomi Watts doing TV, even high profile TV.
LegionQuote Reply
Well, I saw her in TV commercial recently if that counts. Yeah, that's not a show, but it's TV work. ;)
littlebootsQuote Reply
Lol. She's also 42 I think, so maybe ten years late. Bit like George's writing ;)
LegionQuote Reply
For anyone who's worried that Jennifer Ehle is not beautiful enough to play Catelyn, I think you should do one thing and keep two things in mind:
TO DO:
Watch the BBC/A&E Pride and Prejudice miniseries. It will only take about twenty minutes to absolutely fall in love with Lizzy Bennet, played by Ms. Ehle. At first glance, she is not the bombshell that I'm sure many wanted, but after watching her verbally spar with Mr. Darcy (Colin Firth), take Mr. Collins to task for being an ass, and generally banter her way around town, you will absolutely fall in love with her. (AAMOF, Ms. Ehle made my list for top fiction babes of all time: http://ebv.blogspot.com/search?q=where%27s+my).
TO KEEP IN MIND:
1. Catelyn has had five kids and is in her mid to late thirties (?). I know she's supposed to be beautiful and noble and whatnot. But age and children do not normally a bombshell beauty make. Ms. Ehle IS beautiful, maybe just not hot.
2. Catelyn Tully Stark is a woman of intelligence, passion, warmth, coolness, is calculating, compassionate, sometimes paranoid, and protective. She is a very multi-dimensional character, and a casting choice that we could easily regret if the actress chosen couldn't convey all those emotions and attributes. Ehle brings all that to the table, plus sophistication and another big chunk of credibility to the piece.
That GoT is getting such big name actors at the outset is perhaps the biggest reason to get excited. Not only does it give the pilot a better chance of getting picked up, but it shows just how impressive the production is at this very early stage that such name actors would be willing to join. From the scripts to the producers/directors, to the crew, to the locations, the attachment of actors of the Bean and Ehle caliber is a GREAT sign.
Color me ecstatic! This could be huge.
ebvQuote Reply
Jaime and Cersei will, I suspect, be in the mid-30s to mid-40s range. Ehle is 40, for example, and I don't seem them casting Jaime and Cersei as a lot younger than that.
Adam WhiteheadQuote Reply
ebv,
Agree completely, on all counts :)
When you consider this is a ~fantasy~ tv drama, something that has, as far as I'm aware, never been attempted on this kind of scale before, and so far, the producers don't seem to have put a single foot wrong with regards to casting, choice of director, choice of crew, the script is great, the locations are great … we've got to count ourselves immensely, hugely lucky.
SilverstarQuote Reply
and she has a very delicate biscuit-face, and not the kind of stern, proud bone structure I'd pictured for Catelyn.
This. I don't care if Catelyn isn't a swimsuit model, but the quality of Ehle's looks, while attractive, conveys a whole different personality. Sure she's classy, but she's not really the first person I'd cast as an ideal Roman senator's wife, which is what Catelyn pretty much is.
I don't understand it when people say things like "She looks like she could play a mom." I'm guessing we all have moms here and they probably don't look all alike.
AnonymousQuote Reply
She basically needs to be able to pull off the role, which is a very complex one to play. If she can do that, which it seems there is a very high chance that she will do wonderfully, based on past performance, then the different bone structure from the one Martin describes is not really that important. I'd rather have someone who can act, than someone who fits the bill exactly on looks, but can't.
SilverstarQuote Reply
Catelyn Stark was never a bombshell in the books IMO. The bombshell is Cersei and the actress who portrays her really needs to be a bombshell, it's sort of essential to the story.
Let's not forget that she's supposed to be pretty that she almost managed to tempt Ned. The problem with that is that bombshell actresses are never the best ones in terms of acting capabilities.
It's a really tough casting choice. And in top of that, she has to look somehow similar to Jaime
EmpedoclesQuote Reply
ebv = one of the best posts in regards this news. Good job.
LegionQuote Reply
Cat is pretty much the spitting image of Sansa, or vice versa rather, and Sansa is often said to be a knock-out. Cat isn't very sexualized as a character, but I find it really interesting to go through the casting suggestions over the past ten years and note how attractively people cast males from the series that were never said to be very good-looking (see: Ned, Jon) while Catelyn is always qualified with "Pretty but not too pretty" or "Pretty in an ordinary way". I think people are just used to looks always being really prevalent in female characters' characterization, like it is for Dany or Cersei or Sansa. But it isn't with Cat because Cat doesn't think about her own looks. Doesn't mean she isn't beautiful, from inference.
That said, I'm not saying I'm disappointed because she isn't zomg!hawt. Ehle's personality and quality is just different, not just based on photos but from her roles as well (in fact I have Possession on right now – I'd much rather they have casted Headey from that movie). But we could be doing a lot worse, I'll agree to that.
AnonymousQuote Reply
when i was making up my dream cast i did actually find tricia helfer and josh holloway to be as close looking as twins can get. Same kind of facial expression and stuff.
ptzQuote Reply
Catelyn was a character that I had a really, really hard time picturing, but as soon as I saw 5 or so pictures of Ehle, I realized that she DEFINITELY fits the (foggy) mental picture for me. Especially the picture GRRM has on his blog of her as a blonde.
AshliQuote Reply
Thanks, Legion. This production is near and dear to me.
As for your 11:48am post– it made me shoot milk out my nose. :D Loved it.
ebvQuote Reply
Bear in mind that Catelyn is the only woman, other than Cersei, that Jaime has ever expressed any interest in. Plus Littlefinger thought she was so wonderful that he … well … seems to have pulled the realm to pieces slowly in revenge for losing her.
She's beautiful. She's just not written as a sex object, the way most of the other female characters are, and she is completely unconcerned about her own looks, so they rarely come up in passing.
SilverstarQuote Reply
I find it hilarious how the image people have in their heads of Catelyn differs from what's actually described in the books.
Ehle is a perfect piece of casting.
And if Keeley Hawes isn't a contender for Cersei, I'll eat my copes of the novels! Biggest news for me will be who plays Sandor. Must be Ray Stevenson, must be Ray Stevenson, must be Ray Stevenson…
FordyQuote Reply
The point is that Sansa looks like her when she was young. As has been said, she has had five kids and had to go live in the damn cold north.
She needs to look dignified and harsh to work as the strong character that Catelyn needs. She needs to look sophisticated over knock out and Jennifer Ehle pulls that off very well.
LegionQuote Reply
Well, as described in the books …
"Sansa had gotten their mother's fine high cheekbones and the thick auburn hair of the Tullys."
"Her face was windburnt and gaunt, but it had lost none of its determination."
"Her face was so strong and handsome, her skin so smooth and soft."
AnonymousQuote Reply
Thanks Anon ^ for posting the book's descriptions.
Keep in mind, Catelyn is a woman who is dogged by tragedy and sorrow–this starts immediately after the pilot, and it just keeps getting worse throughout the series. Ehle might be a very good actress, but her face is extremely cute and round and almost too pretty (the shot of her blonde on GRRM's blog immediately brought to mind the singer Jewel). Can she do gaunt, haunted and slightly nuts? Can anyone recommend some film/TV/youtube that hints at this?
AnonymousQuote Reply
You're welcome, and just to clarify – I do think Ehle is a great actress, she obviously has talent and I'm really happy HBO is putting so much effort into quality. But all I'm trying to say is that on first impression, Ehle is more someone I might choose for soft, shy Lysa (had she grown into a normal sane human being) than proud, staunch and eventually quite haunted Catelyn. But she's talented and maybe she'll pull it off, I'll just need convincing, that's all. Anyone who is happy with the casting is free to celebrate, you don't need me to tell you that :)
I've been looking since last night at Ehle clips and haven't found much that strike me as very Catelynesque, yet.
AnonymousQuote Reply
If Keeley Hawes gets cast as Cersei, then we need to see Phillip Glenister show up in this somewhere.
Actually, in all seriousness I'd like to see Phillip Glenister show up in this.
LegionQuote Reply
"Actually, in all seriousness I'd like to see Phillip Glenister show up in this."
Hmm … Jorah Mormont?
SilverstarQuote Reply
Have any of you people ever heard of makeup? Seriously – how many actresses do you see running around looking "gaunt, haunted, and slightly nuts" on a normal basis? Nobody looks that way normally unless they're on drugs or something.
littlebootsQuote Reply
All this sniping about Ehle sounds like bleatings from the Gillian Anderson herd. I'm glad a real actress got it rather than a midget TV actress prone to tantrums.
AnonymousQuote Reply
He could probably do that well, infact, age him with some make up and he'd be a decent Lord Commander Mormont…..alternatively get him in a cgi suit and he'd be a great Gregor
LegionQuote Reply
how many actresses do you see running around looking "gaunt, haunted, and slightly nuts" on a normal basis?
None, of course (except the ones with obvious nutritional problems).
This isn't any kind of bitterness over G.A. not being cast (I have to say, I'm relieved she wasn't). It's just a question of physical type–"strong and handsome," as opposed to soft and pretty. I agree that it's wonderful that someone with Ehle's acting talent has been cast, which is far better than casting someone who pulls off Catelyn's look but lacks ability.
AnonymousQuote Reply
I too would like to see Keeley Hawes as Cersei. She's got the arch attitude and the bod for it, for sure. Her face is maybe not quite the classically, perfectly beautiful face most imagine, but she is still very beautiful – certainly beautiful enough.
Is "Ashes to Ashes" still ongoing? If it is, it might mean she can't do this show. Depends on scheduling.
BrudeQuote Reply
I agree with Anonymous @12:32. I have a sinking suspicion that the people saying she doesn't "look like Catelyn" or isn't beautiful enough for Catelyn were the same people who have been pimping GA for her role.
I mean really, we got an actress with some serious cred, who has won multiple awards, was the lead role in one of Jane Austen's best received adaptations, and in my opinion looks VERY MUCH like Catelyn. I'm surprised that she seems to be getting the most criticism, (besides maybe Mark Addy – where I can understand some skepticism… )
I'm not trying to be critical, we all have our own pictures and ideas… I guess I'm a little surprised by the criticism.
I'm sticking with my theory, if GRRM is happy with castings, then I should be happy. He knows the characters better than anyone and he seems to approve of all so far.
The ChrisQuote Reply
One of the things that always bothered me about Ehle in Pride & Prejudice was that she was SO much prettier than the woman playing her sister, Jane, who's supposed to be the beauty of the county. I think she's quite beautiful, just not in that typical Hollywood way. She's more of a traditional beauty, which fits Catelyn.
As for the characters looks, I agree that Cersei has to be gorgeous, but let's not overlook the need for a brilliant actress. Personality can make someone infinitely more desirable, and Cersei definitely knows how to work it. I'm sure this will get me laughed at, but my dream Cersei would be someone like Kate Winslet. She's already beautiful, but also has the skill to manipulate people's perceptions of her. Clearly, this will never happen, but a girl can dream…
NeenamaraQuote Reply
Just looked it up. Ashes To Ashes is filming a 3rd season starting in September, which basically makes it impossible for Keeley Hawes to play Cersei I would think. A shame.
BrudeQuote Reply
@ebv
Excellent post. Couldn't agree more.
furreverQuote Reply
Well, I can't vouch for everyone, but to echo the other Anon, I'm not bitter over GA not being cast, there's a few actresses I could mention in addition to her (and in fact I did mention Lena Headey) and I'm quite open to an unknown entirely.
Catelyn isn't a character a lot of people understand very easily, I think it's fair to say. She has a lot of inner conflict and different facets, and on top of that is very internalized at this point in her life and has very little outlet for expression except her own thoughts. I don't think it's surprising that people emphasize different qualities when trying to cast her. But I guess, as long as I've been following casting suggestions for this character, it seems to me that all she boils down to for a lot of people is Mom. It's understandable, but erases everything Martin was trying to do with such a character, which IMO is show how she's both a mother and her own person with her own past and own thoughts and own inclinations, etc. The reason I was a little disappointed with the casting was the impression that HBO didn't understand that either, because Ehle comes off so much softer. It's one thing if the fanbase doesn't get her, but if the producers don't either …
But we have a long way to go before this is all in the bag, there's still the scripts and that will go a long way in creating the character. Those of you who are pleased, that's great, I'm not denigrating your opinion.
AnonymousQuote Reply
@Neenamara –
Haha, I watched ALL 5 hours of P&P with my fiancee, and I remember thinking the same thing about her sister, Jane. She was downright unattractive, especially when compared to Ehle's character. If the sister was cast, then there may be issues.
And you made a good point of her being a traditional beauty. Beauty has changed over the years, and I think Ehle has more of a classical beauty, than say… Angelina Jolie or many of the other actresses that are considered so hot these days. To me she will fit in with the setting and the feel that the shows will undoubtedly have.
Cersei, on the other hand, was more of an extraordinary beauty and I can see her having more of the modern beauty that people seemed to expect for Catelyn.
Just my opinion though…
The ChrisQuote Reply
"SO much prettier than the woman playing her sister, Jane, who's supposed to be the beauty of the county. I think she's quite beautiful, just not in that typical Hollywood way."
I wouldn't say that. Susannah Harker is an attractive and also a very good actress in her own right (she was also superb in ULTRAVIOLET and HOUSE OF CARDS). She didn't come across as favourably as Elizabeth simply because that was the point of the story ;-)
Adam WhiteheadQuote Reply
@R, theres no need for the nude pic. Have some respect for this site and for the actress, totally inappropriate in my opinion.
At the very least, put a warning around it for those of us with families or jobs…
That said, "very nice". :)
The ChrisQuote Reply
Hrmm, I feel like we're all talking at cross purposes here XD I DON'T want her to look like a modern beauty, I don't want Cindy Crawford or anything. But someone who comes off, in looks and in mannerisms, more forceful, even if in a latent under-the-surface way. I don't think Jennifer Ehle is unattractive, I'd love to look as pretty as she does. But the particular quality is just different than I expected, that's all. Anyway, it's great that we don't have someone who looks the part but is an awful actress.
AnonymousQuote Reply
I'm totally convinced that she will be more then superb as Catelyn. I just think that it's cool that she has great sex appeal as well.
RQuote Reply
@The Chris
If the nude picture were taken surreptitiously, then it would be disrespectful to Jennifer Ehle to post it. But she accepted and played the role as a professional actress. The picture is fair game.
SergioCQHQuote Reply
@Anonymous –
I'm speaking for myself, but there's lots of different Anons, some more trolly than others, and quite a few people who less eloquently stated their dissatisfaction. Your opinion seems perfectly reasonably and no one should attack that. I can see where she seems soft where Catelyn seems hard… but I think that once she is in make-up and in character, she will (hopefully) really represent Catelyn's character well.
The ChrisQuote Reply
@SergioCQH –
They may be fair game, but there's a difference between having a nude scene in a movie and having them uploaded to nude sites on the internet for any perv to see.
As a public forum, some people may be looking at the site with their kids in the same room, etc… and should have some sort of warning, is all. It's the respectful thing to do in a public setting.
The ChrisQuote Reply
I totally agree the post should have a NSFW warning. In fact, I think it should be deleted in its current state.
SergioCQHQuote Reply
OMG. HER BONE STRUCTURE IS TOTALLY WRONG. TERRIBLE CHOICE.
AnonymousQuote Reply
Okay, okay, sorry. I apologize for posting it. It does seem a silly and slightly stupid thing to do in retrospect.
RQuote Reply
R, I wouldn't feel too bad. Posting a picture of the subject of the discussion isn't nearly as silly and stupid as some of the trolls we've had and that WiC has ignored.
That said, delete the prior comment and repost the link with a NSFW warning.
SergioCQHQuote Reply
"I agree with Anonymous @12:32. I have a sinking suspicion that the people saying she doesn't "look like Catelyn" or isn't beautiful enough for Catelyn were the same people who have been pimping GA for her role.
I mean really, we got an actress with some serious cred, who has won multiple awards, was the lead role in one of Jane Austen's best received adaptations, and in my opinion looks VERY MUCH like Catelyn."
It's a baseless suspicion: everyone here imagines the characters differently. Just wait what happens when Cersei is cast. It's as simple as that. And I still don't understand why anyone would oppose Jennifer Ehle and Gillian Anderson. Every single compliment you said in connection with Ehle could be used to talk about Anderson: big role on an iconic TV series (two, actually, when you include "Bleak House"). great work on stage and in films, tons of awards, respect from the acting community. + The fame factor, which gets truly appreciated when the Nielsen ratings are published.
"this sniping about Ehle sounds like bleatings from the Gillian Anderson herd. I'm glad a real actress got it rather than a midget TV actress prone to tantrums."
No one was sniping or bleating. No one. But you showed again how juvenile and rude actor-bashers can be. Online anonymity is no excuse for pettiness. Get a clue, and a hobby, because reading G.R.R. Martin is clearly not enough in your case.
alphabaseQuote Reply
If you want a more modern/tougher look at Jennifer Ehle, she plays a cancer patient/fiancee/rough life New Yorker in last year's "Pride and Glory," starring Colin Farrell, Edward Norton, Jr., and Jon Voight.
The movie was only mediocre, IMO, and Ms. Ehle's role is fairly minor, but to those who wonder if she can play the hyper-protective, emotionally battered Catelyn along with the regal Queen Mother of the North, her performance in this role should convince you otherwise.
As a testament to her dedication to her craft, she shaved her head for the production! That's gutsy. In short, she can play Yankee tough along with the Austen fluff.
ebvQuote Reply
R, I didn't mean to be aggressive. To be honest, I thought you were one of the trolls and thought it would be funny to post a nude pic, and there's been a growing number of them diluting the conversations around here.
The ChrisQuote Reply
She is soooo ugly. I can't believe they chose her :O
Catelyn needs hotness omg this is so upsetting
<3 G.A <3 fan4ever xxQuote Reply
geesh. I'm at work people! Can you put a NSFW with that nude pic at least?
Also, I think Ehle will be great as Catelyn. I'd rather see someone talented in the role, which Ehle obviouslt is, than someone who just 'looks' the part. I think in costume, hair, and makeup Ehle will definitely look like Catelyn.
NicoleQuote Reply
If people are just going to post "OMG… she is so ugly/wrong/terrible" can you at least back up your opinions? Otherwise, you should just keep them to yourself if you have nothing to contribute to the conversation.
AnonymousQuote Reply
The thing is, I don't think I can (delete my own posts). I was just surprised that this question hadn't come up before… And, in my defense I can say that the Ice and Fire books themselves contain stuff that's way more hardcore then that image. Although that said, that earlier post in its current form is probably indeed in need of a warning of some sort.
Remember however, that we DO get a chapter from Catelyn in early A Game of Thrones where she is almost completely naked and that time span is covered by the pilot. So it will be interesting how they'll solve this.
RQuote Reply
R – in the pilot script, at least the one that has gone around so far, the nudity was skipped over. She was basically wrapped up in her blankets and furs if I remember correctly.
AnonymousQuote Reply
It's the lack of NSFW warnings that's bothersome, is all.
Smoldering HoundQuote Reply
@anon-1:47
Um… i am backed up by the pic? Her face is like all mushy and pouty, like plasticene. That is sooo not Catelyn.
*G.A* fan4ever xxxQuote Reply
NINJA'd again!
Smoldering HoundQuote Reply
Um… What exactly is an NSFW warning?
Not Suitable For What?
HoboQuote Reply
Yikes, I'm done with the "Ehle doesn't look like Catelyn" argument. It surprises me that people feel so strongly about that, but that is because of my own opinion, so there's no need to argue with others about it.
BTW, is anyone finding work really getting in the way of being glued to casting news on GoT??? :)
Back to work…
The ChrisQuote Reply
@ Hobo
Not Suitable For Work
by the way, I'm not offended by the nudity R. I don't think other people should be either as Ehle was okay with it to do it in the first place, and ASOIAF features much worse than a couple nude shots!
@ *G.A* fan4ever xxx
go find a Gillian Anderson fan blog and leave us alone.
NicoleQuote Reply
Comments like "like all mushy and pouty" are probably trying to be incendiary and derailing, we all know that, right?
JennyTQuote Reply
While one agrees that the nude picture probably wasnt neccessary, the counter has to be if you're at work you shouldn't be on a blog anyway – go do some work! Lol.
I'm over this casting news now. I want more!
LegionQuote Reply
@ Legion
touché… is that why my work is piling up around me?
NicoleQuote Reply
@ Nicole
Yup, although just to make it clear, I was joking :P
LegionQuote Reply
Damn it. Who the hell is she. I for one am really depressed by this announcement. Anderson would have been so much better. Well too bad for the series :(
Anonymous RomanticQuote Reply
who the hell wants old Agent Scully? go watch how to lose friends and alienate people. Gillian Anderson would have been horrible and and besides who cares we have a much better actress now. and hotter
AnonymousQuote Reply
Not exactly as I pictured Catelyn, but then again neither was Sean Bean (exactly like I pictured Ned) nor even Dinklage (exactly like I pictured Tyrion). Such is real life! Seems to be another very good casting decision, all in all.
Can't wait to see them all in costumes, make-up etc! :)
WandererQuote Reply
Carcetti from the Wire would make a great Littlefinger.
AnonymousQuote Reply
Regarding Ehle's face giving her "the wrong personality" for Catelyn: "It's called 'acting', dear boy".
Regarding everyone finding Catelyn attractive (Brandon, Ned, Jaime, LF) and hence Catelyn being stunningly beautiful: how pitiably shallow are we saying the characters are? I don't know about anyone else here, but I don't fall in love with people on the basis of who's got the nicest breasts or most elegant facial structure. I don't know anyone who ranks women like that (at least in seriousness). Why would the characters do so? Yes, it's unlikely Catelyn is actually ugly – but it's quite possible for a non-ugly woman to be endearing, provocative, alluring, fascinating or even intoxicating, without necessarily looking stunningly hot in a still photograph. The male characters mentioned could just as easily be enticed by her personality, her voice, her intelligence, her virtue, or just something ineffable about the way she moves. Men are not as simple as a lot of media and advertising claim!
[Indeed, LF, Ned and Jaime all seem to me like men who aren't going to be attracted by pure hotness. All three, I think, are men who look under the surface - I think it's made clear in Jaime's case, for instance, that it's Catelyn's personality that appeals, iirc. (and of course he's got the most beautiful woman in the kingdom at home - to me, this doesn't read as saying that catelyn's the second most beautiful, but rather that catelyn has something that cersei, and most other women, don't - she appeals in a different way)]
This means that we can't really say who is meant to be beautiful on the basis of who is found attractive by whom – even ignoring the whole issue of the relativity of physical beauty. We can't say someone is actually beautiful unless the text comes right out and says it – and even then, the POV may have different standards to us, or may be lead into thinking someone is beautiful when even by their own standards they aren't – Dany, for instance, appears more beautiful to people because of her power and mystery. I would probably prefer someone a little 'alien' as Dany – as that exagerates the mystique. In the opposite way, I think Margaery need only be pretty – a pretty, friendly girl who makes you feel her attention can appear very beautiful indeed when she's got fabulous wealth and power backing her up.
AnonymousQuote Reply
@Anon above, Its too bad for the series that shallow people like you will be watching it. It is a proven fact that GA is one of the best period actresses in the world right now. So I don't really care about your ignorant opinion.
Anonymous RomanticQuote Reply
I was responding to Anon at 2:20.
Anonymous RomanticQuote Reply
Oh, and to fellow anonymous: Yes! Now that you mention it, Carcetti would be great as Littlefinger! He wouldn't be top of my list, but I think he could pull it off pretty well.
He's also English, iirc – at least, he's been on English TV with an English accent. [I noticed him on Poirot, for instance - which shows what an effect the setting has on an actor. In a mediocre tv series in a significant but under-written role, I thought him a bad actor, or at least unexceptional, while on a brilliant series he became a fantastic actor]
AnonymousQuote Reply
@ Work in the way
YES! And it doesn't look to be getting any better with October getting so close!
*spoiler Alert
In the chapter where Bran falls/gets pushed..
"Faces apppeared in the window above him. The Queen. And now Bran recognized the man beside her. They looked as much alike as reflections in the mirror."
*End Spoiler
So I think the twins should definately look VERY similar.
Catlyn having a 'windburned' face could simply be rosie cheeks. I'm from the snowy north and we all get windburnt I wintertime, which usually presents itself as pink noses and red cheeks. I don't think it detracts from ones beauty to be windburnt.
On the subject of GA. Hey, I liked the Xfiles. I think she IS a good actress, talanted, and diverse. HOWEVER, I just never thought she would be right for the part of Catlyn. I'm not flamin her I just think she was not right for this patiular role. Now Lysa on the other hand…I could see her as Lysa. She would be a perfect Lysa.
JaimeeQuote Reply
if richard harris was alive he would have made an awesome Mormont.
AnonymousQuote Reply
I don't think it's just about being beautiful. Jennifer Ehle is quite attractive, I certainly think so anyway. But in the case of Littlefinger, it does seem like he was attracted to Catelyn very primarily because of her looks. He was very easily able to replace her with Sansa, and Sansa and Catelyn have very different personalities but very similar looks. He says to Sansa, "With your mother's beauty and my brains we can take over the world" or something to that effect. No mention of any other qualities ever, as far as I recall. I agree that Jaime was intrigued by something else, but that something else I'd bet is the way she contrasted with her softer shier sister, whom he recalls in the same moment as being less interesting. I don't think there has to be a bombshell in the role, I was just looking for different qualities. I'm going to try and check out the title ebv suggested and see if I'm swayed.
For the record, Jennifer Ehle basically got me through college. I'm pretty sure Pride and Prejudice was the only reason I survived at least seven different exam periods. I loved it and her in it, so I'm not intending to insult her at all.
AnonymousQuote Reply
Unless they cast twins I don't think we are going to get the mirror effect. That is just something we'll have to face.
The twins from that disney show about a hotel aren't adverse to transvestitism, maybe they could do it [/joke]
LegionQuote Reply
They should get John Hurt to play Maester Aemon.
AnonymousQuote Reply
A perfect Catelyn imho – a classic beauty, not a bimbo.
ragnarQuote Reply
Ragnar, and who in your opinion would be a "bimbo" Catelyn? I very curious to hear.
Anonymous RomanticQuote Reply
On the subject of "oh she just looks ike a mom to me…"
Ok Moms of the world are some of the best improv actresses out there. here are some examples…
"yes honey, these pancakes are scumptious. I don't mind eating them out of a bowl with a spoon, honey, I'm surprised no one ever thought to make pancake soup."
"Aww I love dandelions. Thank you for the beautiful bouquet…with roots and everything."
"Yes! That {stick figure drawing with a giant head and a pig nose…} looks JUST like me."
OOO here was one of my favorites…my daughter made me a book mark for GoT because she noticed all these little pieces of yellow sticky note hanging out (Yay for free office supplies)and it said
"I love my mom, in
jooy yoor dick maerck"
which translates to 'Enjoy your book mark' she get's her Ds and Bs confused. I was at a loss so I asked "oh my eyes hurt, will you read it to me?" All the while I had to keep a straight face but really I nearly shot coffee out my nose. She worked way too long on my "dick maerck" for me to laugh at her. she sounded out the words herself and did all by herself and she was beaming with pride.
for these reasons and thousands more…'Mom' should be included in the resume as an acting accolade.
JaimeeQuote Reply
Jaimee, your story is pure win. Thank you for brightening up my previously drab day.
AnonymousQuote Reply
Awwwwww, what a lovely thing. That's a really sweet story.
LegionQuote Reply
Thank you Jaime!!! Perfect!
The JoeQuote Reply
YAh It still gives me the giggles when I read my book. She is a sweet sweet girl. She thinks Game of Thrones is a comedy.
JaimeeQuote Reply
worst casting eveeeer
ComicBook GuyQuote Reply
I initially said that I didn't see her as Catelyn looks-wise, but WiC updated the picture and it now looks just right.
AnonymousQuote Reply
No, she doesn't. Are you blind?
ComicBook GuyQuote Reply
Jaimee, thanks for the pick-me-up. Have to love little kids! XD
ebvQuote Reply
Terrance Stamp would be great as Mormont or as Tywin Lannister.
AnonymousQuote Reply
KNELL BEFORE TYWIN!
LegionQuote Reply
Who would you suggest, ComicBook Guy?
ChrisQuote Reply
Oh you are welcome! :D I'm just full of lil stories like that. My kids crack me up constantly! They are hilarious adventurers. My youngest says that mountains make your legs smaller "cuz they won't move apart quite right while I'm walkin up the crooked parts that makes 'em heavier" and streams are cold "cuz spit is cold and fish spit in streams. A lot. They even have cuts in thier heads for more spit to come out." She always announces these enlightening moments with "I know why….ect ect" ah to be 6 and know just about everything… anyways…I'm happy it cracked you guys up too.
And Chris, I too am curious…
Yes, comic book guy, who is best in your opinion?
JaimeeQuote Reply
@Jaimee
Wonderful argument. Couldn't agree more.
furreverQuote Reply
COME ON PEOPLE!!! EHLE LOOKS THE PART, IS ATTRACTIVE, CAN ACT PERFECTLY AND IS FAVORED/CO-PICKED BY GRRM HIMSELF!!! NUFF SAID!! NOW GO ON WITH YOUR LIFE.
RQuote Reply
Must you really ask? her name was mentioned about a hundred times in past posts on this topic.
ComicBook GuyQuote Reply
Well said R.
AnonymousQuote Reply
Not even close to how I picture Catelyn. Al least they didn't pick up Gillian Anderson, it could've been worse…
Haven't seen her in any movie, so I don't know about her acting skills.
LeonQuote Reply
I will now paraphrase Stephen Fry.
Comicbook Guys, you can't live with them, you can't live with them. There is only one thing worse than a comicbook guy, but that at least can be lanced, drained and surgically dressed.
Comicbook guys, love them or loathe them, you'd be mad not to loathe them.
AnonymousQuote Reply
@ R
YAH! GO ELHE! Can't wait to see her go!!!!!
JaimeeQuote Reply
@Anon 4:18
MuahahahahMUAHhahahahaha. Again NUFF SAID.
JaimeeQuote Reply
I'm glad I'm a comic book girl LOL
JaimeeQuote Reply
Jaimee, don't get me wrong, I love comics too, but I was terribly annoyed by that man ;)
AnonymousQuote Reply
………Can I please state, for those of us who are guys and comic fans, ComicBook Guy does not speak for us all.
LegionQuote Reply
Why are you people so prejudiced against Agent Scully?
ComicBook GuyQuote Reply
@ComicBook Guy
Had you not called her Agent Scully, I wouldn't have known. Now I do, thanks.
AnonymousQuote Reply
ComicBook Guy is probably very similar to the one from Simpsons. I'm imagining the only person he will approve of playing Catelyn will be the one he has a thousand pictures of plastered over the walls of his room and in a little candle-lit shrine he has in his closet.
AnonymousQuote Reply
The Agent Scully Effect(ASE) on this site reminds me of when Ron Paul was running for president. I respected the man, and even voted for him, but hated him because I knew that every-freaking-where I would go on the internet, there would be a slew of people whoring his candidacy.
When he was talked bad about or didn't win debates or polls or elections, his cult-ish following would rise up in a cacophony of delirium.
Many people seem to be legitimately upset at this casting decision, and it seems like in many / most cases it is solely because this woman is not Agent Scully. It's weird.
The ChrisQuote Reply
Yeah, the whole obsession with Gillian Anderson weirds me out. Very creepy.
SergioCQHQuote Reply
Tourette syndrome trolls aside, 180 responses in one half-day is pretty freaking good. This site is taking off like a rocket ship, especially for something that hasn't even been filmed yet. Kudos, WiC.
It boggles me a little bit that anyone would complain for getting someone as respected and talented as Jennifer Ehle. Understand this is coming from me – someone who wanted Gillian Anderson in the role, though based off of her performance in Bleak House, not because of her rather dull character on X-Files.
The more I see of Jennifer Ehle, the more I love this casting choice; I think it will stand up to the Dinklage choice when all's said and done. Is it based off her ability to pantomime a "Catelyn-like performance?" No, it's about her ability to act. At the end of this, I'm going to post up some clips from YouTube. If people come back at me with "bone structure" arguments then there's really no more to say.
Catelyn is beautiful, noble, elegant. She's a Tully who became a Stark. She's the mother of five children; certainly not a Playboy centerfold. I don't want a Playboy centerfold for any of the roles on Game of Thrones, but Catelyn would be one of the last I'd even consider. Jennifer Ehle has what Catelyn should have; she radiates both beauty and dignity.
What matters is talent (which she has), and the ability to emote a scene without speaking a word (which she has in spades – my god, look at her eyes). Not whether or not she's "your" Catelyn. Your Catelyn's not my Catelyn, and she's not the Catelyn of the person posting after me, or the next. Everyone pictures characters from the book differently.
The question is simply: can she become Catelyn Stark?
I think it's evident she can. I'll go on record as saying "I told you so" ahead of time.
For those of you who have time (this could take a chunk of it – some of these are long), take a look at some of these clips, just for a glimpse of what we're getting with Jennifer Ehle:
This one if from the movie Melissa. If you want, skip to the gun scene starting at 5:20. Pure terror and desperation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwipwh_Pl7w
The next clip is from Possession (no nudity, but sexual situations – might not be entirely work appropriate). Jennifer's part starts at 1:10
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRMnJc6BNAA
People talk of "rounded and soft" versus "stark" (pun intended). You're just seeing her in the wrong roles. Look at her face at the beginning of this interview:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueweIIzqvXs
Oh, want gaunt? Ehle can do gaunt, with a touch of hopeless despair.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fs5NIwNvNyw
And finally… NOT WORK APPROPRIATE AT ALL:
(Might take a while to load, if you can at all – and I think the text is in Czech.)
http://www.videobomb.cz/video/Jennifer_Ehle
Now that's a woman. No wonder Ned was irked at Maester Luwin's presence in her bedchamber.
About Yea HighQuote Reply
Oh absolutely, comic people are ofter missrepresented by the outspoken few. I believe this is the 3% (that is paraphrased) of which he spoke….
JaimeeQuote Reply
Well, Jaimee, Stephen Fry actually spoke of estate agents, I just thought it was rather appropriate :)
AnonymousQuote Reply
I think one of the problems here is that people are confusing the books with the tv show. Game of Thrones is a tv show based on ASOIAF, however they are two very very separate entities now.
You can't say that she doesn't look like Catelyn beacuse guess what…now that she has been cast, she is Catelyn and whatever she looks like is what Catelyn of the show looks like now. In that sense she's perfect for the role.
Ultimately, while I understand that it will be utterly impossible not to judge the show in relation to its similarities to the books in plot, quality and appearence, people are going to have to get used to the fact that there will be difference. Some will be small, but some will inevitably be huge and those difference will either be necessary for a successful translation to television or just a creative decision that we may not agree with but that the producers have every right to make if they so choose.
DanQuote Reply
Thank you, A.Y.H. I'm really tired of seeing people complaining about Ehle. I think she's great, and I also think G.A. could have been great as well. Whatevs.
People make it seem like it's the end of the world now that G.A. isn't in the pilot! For gods sale, you complainers, lighten up and give Ehle a chance! And so far the casting has been phenomenal and I am very excited!
NicoleQuote Reply
The Gillian Anderson stuff is pretty out of control and kind of weird. I mean, I was hoping she would get the role too and think she would have been great but I am also thoroughly happy with the Ehle choice, too. An actress as lauded as she is brings a great veneer of class to the show that is sometimes lacking in genre fare.
As for why Anderson didn't get the role, well maybe she didn't want the part or wasn't available for scheduling reasons. Maybe she doesn't want to do another series. Maybe they couldn't afford her quote (I'm sure she would have cost a lot more than Ehle). There are dozens of reasons why she maybe didn't get cast.
It's not the end of the world. You may be pleasantly surprised by Ehle's work once you see it. Only time will tell.
BrudeQuote Reply
I'm just happy that Gillian Anderson wasn't cast as Catelyn. I'm ok with Ehle, though I imagined Catelyn to be much prettier.
AnonymousQuote Reply
Thanks to "About Yea High"
Those vids were great. I think she'll be perfect.
BananaQuote Reply
It's pretty hard to cast Catelyn. I'll live with Ehle, though she doesn't conjure the character up for me. If Gillian Anderson causes this much ruckus it's a good thing we avoided her.
AnonymousQuote Reply
Until today I've never heard of Ehle so I don't know what to expect (I'll check out the YouTube clips that About Yea High posted though).
I'm not unhappy with the role anyway. I think that she fits the character lookwise.
Besides, all this shit about Gillian Anderson gotta go. What, do you seriously want to watch Boromir and Scully together? One famous name (Bean) is enough for me. I totally prefer unknowns and so Ehle is a plus for me.
Yay for Ehle!
RinsoQuote Reply
@Sparq
Honestly, to me, "monster of inhuman cruelty" sounds much more like the Hound, than it does Catelyn. Not saying that Sansa couldn't be linked to the other quote, just that I think if GRRM's previous statement is meant to be a hint, then the truth of it hasn't been completely revealed yet.
slyhellQuote Reply
I really didn't like Myles in Doctor Who :/ I know a lot of people loved that ep, but the acting just killed my suspension of belief like anything.
AoedeQuote Reply
@ Aoede
That's interesting as I've never seen anyone who didn't like that episode.
LegionQuote Reply
Sienna Guillory for Cersei!!!
http://www.probertencyclopaedia.com/j/Sienna%20Guillory.jpg
With RUPERT FRIEND for Jaime.
http://mos.totalfilm.com/images/r/rupert-friend-800-75.jpg
That's doable…
AnonymousQuote Reply
Sienna Guillory looks totally the part, she's 34 years old, and with a little more blonde, she'd BE Cersei.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ln62Gjm2_Y
AnonymousQuote Reply
Sienna Guillory is doing a pilot for a Fox show, so might be busy.
Rupert Friend looks very odd in some of his pics, but could work……seems very Greyjoy to me though in most of his pics off google.
LegionQuote Reply
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=on5mTRa18cw
Check Rupert here…
Age him up a lil…
AnonymousQuote Reply
Not that enthused about Ehle but not despondent either.
I loved Myles in that Who episode, and I think it could be fun to make Cersei seem so nice on the outside knowing how different she is on the inside. You could really believe why Sansa trusted her so much, and it'd give great irony every time anyone said "sweet Cersei".
AnonymousQuote Reply
@ Anonymus 6.26 – Yeah, great video, can really see him working after seeing that. He'd also make a good Theon if they wanted to age Theon up a bit. But can definitely see Jamie in him there.
@ Anonymus 6.29 – That's EXACTLY what I was thinking when I suggested her
LegionQuote Reply
Isn't Sophia Myles too moonlit, if you know what I mean?
AnonymousQuote Reply
I hope George's "I will, I will" won't hint towards Michelle Williams..
Since the beans thing I am such a code guy.
AnonymousQuote Reply
Although Michelle Williams might do just fine…
http://www.sofeminine.co.uk/mag/beauty/d5060/s21040.html
AnonymousQuote Reply
I could never take a Dawson's Creek alumni seriously, lol, shallow I know
LegionQuote Reply
not shallow at all, that Creek must really have been radioactive or something. They're all starting to look like aliens.
AnonymousQuote Reply
WiC, would be nice to have the 'Cast' page with its own special button or something. And update it with Catelyn of course ;)
AnonymousQuote Reply
You can't say that she doesn't look like Catelyn beacuse guess what…now that she has been cast, she is Catelyn and whatever she looks like is what Catelyn of the show looks like now. In that sense she's perfect for the role.
So.. no one can have expectations about what a character's appearance should be based on the content of the books? It's a true statement to say that the TV series and the books are separate entities, but trying to silence dissenters by arguing that the character looks like what the actor looks like because the actor is now the character is a bit unsatisfying.
I think Jennifer Ehle is beautiful and talented and will do a bang-up Catelyn – but I also acknowledge the objections based on her physical characteristics. I don't think anyone would have been happy with a jolly, round-faced Ned. And I enjoy reading the different opinions. The comments would not be as fun to read with 200 people saying "she's fine, but anyone would be fine."
And About Yea High, thanks very much for those links.
JuliaQuote Reply
Oh, this is just perfect! Perfect! I always imagined Ehle when I read the books, so I'm perfectly happy now.
I like the suggestion of Sienna Guillory and Rupert Friend, but Guillory played in that godarrrgh!wful Eragon and might be afraid of another fantasy, and Friend is a bit short. And since they're aging up the characters, they might seem too young, compared with Ned and Catelyn… (Guillory seemed too young to play a mother of a 14 year old girl in Inkheart – the actress who played her daughter, however, could be a contender for the role of Sansa:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1146916/ )
/kate
AnonymousQuote Reply
Eliza Bennett would make a good Sansa
LegionQuote Reply
Michelle Williams would certainly be continuing the STATION AGENT reunion thing that's going on with McCarthy and Dinklage, and she's one of the better actors to come off the Creek, but just no, certainly not as Cersei anyway.
Adam WhiteheadQuote Reply
What's with the Gillian Anderson obsession anyway. What a horrendous piece of castng that would have been. Not only is she totally without a personality, but we'd have also had the old fudgey x-files crowd trying to claim ownership over the series – when it quite obviously belongs to us, as fans of the books :)
FordyQuote Reply
"Ausir: It's very much ingrained in the TV watching audience that fantasy, especially medieval fantacy, uses british accents."
Pretty funny, given that modern American pronunciation is actually closer to medieval English than modern British English is.
AusirQuote Reply
@ Ausir
That isn't really proven and even then it isnt modern american accents at all, it's the Maine accent they think is most like Medieval accents
LegionQuote Reply
Well, to correct myself, that would be most like seventeenth century english accent anyway.
The Medieval accent would have been French.
LegionQuote Reply
"That isn't really proven and even then it isnt modern american accents at all, it's the Maine accent they think is most like Medieval accents"
Yeah, but my main point is that modern American accents are not any more out of place in medieval Britain or any fantasy land than modern British accents are.
AusirQuote Reply
hey WiC…
i made this for you, if you would like to use it. matched your setup you already had. i just thought this photo was good for her, and wanted to help out.
Jennifer Ehle is Catelyn
…ryan
Ryan DunnQuote Reply
Regarding the accents thing, I get the impression that people feel American accents are out of place because the USA is still seen as a 'new' country. It didn't exist in the Middle Ages so a show set in the Middle Ages or a faux-version of that with American accents feels a bit out of place (see Kevin Costner in PRINCE OF THIEVES). Whilst England and France obviously did exist and thus people speaking with an English or French accent is seen as acceptable.
Technically, of course, it is BS as the people speaking in the early medieval period would sound like Chaucer and be pretty unintelligible to a modern audience. I think it's more a case of what audiences 'feel' is right in a period piece, which of course is highly subjective.
Adam WhiteheadQuote Reply
yea! i'm thrilled about ehle, she's a fantastic actress, i think it really speaks to the caliber of production they're putting together. i'd never thought of her but i think she'll be spot on. i was in the no gillian anderson camp, so i'm relieved about that (no offense anyone).
e.gQuote Reply
Technically, Chaucer is Late Medieval. The language at that time was Middle English. People in the Early Medieval period would have been speaking Old English.
SergioCQHQuote Reply
I had heard somewhere and have mentioned it several times that the Lannisters were going to be cast as American as a sort or western reversal where they are the 'bad guys' against the usual thing of English accent = baddie.
Dunno if that would work or be distracting. In terms of an american audience, are americans less likely to get into a show that features all British accents?
LegionQuote Reply
I agree with Adam. But here is my subjective take on it: American and British accent mixing sounds weird to me in medieval-settings. The film that comes to mind is in the Lord of the Rings, where Theoden's American accent was glaringly obvious in scenes with great booming British voices like Gandalf's. Also, Frodo speaks in that terrible "stately" American that just sounds fake. Maybe someone can give us some counter-examples of accent mixing being done right?
MegQuote Reply
As a general comment about those who like/dislike the casting so far based on looks: the beauty of GRRM's writing is that he goes into little physical detail for characters, most of the time. This results in the reader being able to paint a particular picture of the character based on their lives, what that character looks like to them personally, etc. While he occasionally mentions things like "sharp features", "round face", "watery eyes", these are general enough for the physical casting to be pretty flexible.
I'm not saying the depiction of a character in the reader's "minds eye" is right or wrong, I'm just saying that, with the way Martin rights, I'm comfortable with most casting. Hey, even if it's not how I envisioned a character, it is perhaps how someone else did, and I'm fine with that.
"H"Quote Reply
For Jaime, I really liked the suggestion in the previous thread of Michael Fassbender. Looking through his IMDB pics, I can really see him working well as both the cocky, sardonic Jaime of the early books and the haggard, world-weary, bearded Jaime of the later books. All he needs is a hair color change:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1055413/mediaindex
Lots of good ideas in these pages.
AshavanQuote Reply
I feel so bad for Bean. He has to pretend to be in love eith her ugly butt. I would not be suprised if he drops the project.
I cannot disagree with this casting more. ALl the pics and Vids I see make her look to old and UGLY.
AnonymousQuote Reply
"I had heard somewhere and have mentioned it several times that the Lannisters were going to be cast as American as a sort or western reversal where they are the 'bad guys' against the usual thing of English accent = baddie."
That was an idea thrown out on the Westeros forum, I believe, and was never intimated by anyone officially involved in the production. This is how the GA thing started as well ;-)
"Dunno if that would work or be distracting. In terms of an american audience, are americans less likely to get into a show that features all British accents?"
If you look at the success of things like LOVE ACTUALLY, BRIDGET JONES, ROME, DOCTOR WHO, TORCHWOOD etc in the USA , then I'd say no, it shouldn't be a problem.
"Theoden's American accent…"
Are you sure you mean Theoden? Bernard Hill is an English actor. He's from the North and has a slight Manchester accent, but it's not hugely noticeable in the trilogy. Viggo Mortensen's accent nearly slipped a few times though, and Elijah Wood's was a bit stilted at times, but generally decent.
Adam WhiteheadQuote Reply
I could never take a Dawson's Creek alumni seriously, lol, shallow I know
Well, Michelle Williams now has like two Academy Award nominations, so I think she's well past the "Dawson's Creek" perception gutter. That being said, she's really not Cersei – too short, too cute, too much of a likable air about her. Maybe she can turn on "the bitch" for the role, but I don't think she's the type they are going to go for.
I had heard somewhere and have mentioned it several times that the Lannisters were going to be cast as American
I'm partially (though completely unintentionally) to blame for that false perception starting. When the breakdowns were coming out, someone in Los Angeles twittered that they saw breakdowns for Jaime, Cersei and Drogo. I speculated that maybe they were only casting those role there (thinking maybe they had the other roles narrowed down or cast already with U.K. actors). Others started speculating that maybe they were casting Americans as Lannisters because Dinklage was already cast (never mind that he can do a good Middle Atlantic accent when necessary).
As for Sophia Myles – I have seen her in several things, she keeps popping up and I do like her. I think she's going to be a big star but I also think she's kind of young for the role, though. She's only 29, I think. She also always looked a lot like a younger Elisabeth Rohm to me (whom I was friends with in college, so it happens). Liz is actually pretty right for the Cersei role, come to think of it. I don't think I can be totally unbiased in my opinion on her, though.
BrudeQuote Reply
OK, I know no one will agree with me, but I think Tea Leoni would make a great Cersei. I'm always a big fan of comedic actors flexing their dramatic chops. I would be concerned about her age, but she's only 3 years older than Ehle (whom I think is a great choice- eerily close to how I picture Cat).
AnonymousQuote Reply
I think it is foolish to expect characters to look like what you expect or, even what the book says. There are details about characters that need to be kept, but exact appearance is not one of them. If they do look more the part, great, otherwise I'd much rather just have talented actors and actresses which is what we have received so far.
TGrando357Quote Reply
I agree with those saying that appearances are too much to expect to match exactly. But characterization is not, that one's a big thing, and appearance does play into that. Julia wisely pointed out how none of us would be pretty happy if Ned was played by some round-faced jolly guy. Why? It doesn't convey his character. Superficial or not, we attach personality traits to appearance in television, it just happens. And I agree with those saying that Ehle conveys a much more soft, safe and comforting mommy-figure type Catelyn than a proud noblewoman type Catelyn.
But really, my biggest issue with Catelyn is that line in the leaked script where Ned says something like, I'm not your dog to command. That just does nothing good or right for either of their characters or their relationship. If I could change only one thing about how they're approaching her, it'd be that. What an awful awful line.
AnonymousQuote Reply
@legion
"Dunno if that would work or be distracting. In terms of an american audience, are americans less likely to get into a show that features all British accents?"
First off I love Brit comedies (The IT Crowd is awesome), though I hate their low budget sci-fi (just a personal pref).I think something like that would be an awesome idea though, and no in the states we don't care whether people in a show have a Brit or Oz accent. Though we hate an accent that is unintelligible, unless it's done in a funny manner such as in "Water Boy".
The thing to keep in mind for the show is that the States will have the biggest audience. Also medieval accents might sound strange to someone from England if they have an American accent, but at the same time someone who had a Australian accent would sound strange to us. If the characters speak in an accent you are not accustomed to then of course it would sound strange because the whole time you would be thinking damn that dude with the huge sword is from Australia.
Anyways our accent is divergent from the English accent because of the geographical divide, but our languages have the same root that comes from about the same period but branches off in different directions.
RerQuote Reply
@Anonymous
"OK, I know no one will agree with me, but I think Tea Leoni would make a great Cersei.
WTF?
RerQuote Reply
I wouldn't have any problem with wildings having american midwestern accents like the actor who played Conan's dad in Conan the Barbarian.
knowingthomasQuote Reply
We have a lot of journalism schools out here in the mid-west because our accents are considered neutral in respect to most people from the states. So you see a lot of reporters from the mid-west, i.e… Missouri, Kansas, Illinois and such.
RerQuote Reply
A common accent in the states is the lack of an accent. People from the west and midwest commmonly do not have an accent at all. Southern states (Georgia, Tennesee, the carolinas, TEck-sess New Awlins…ect…) have the drawl that some non-americans associate with Americans but is actually not as common as would be expected. New York has a cool accent as does maine and these 3 could not be more different. But then you have the regional dialects where in Minnesota its "Paawk the Caaw", as it is in New Jersey but they sound different. For some reason the eastern states have a more pronounced accent then the lack thereof in the west. Yet in all of these states with the accent there are those who simply do not have an accent and in the places where no accent is associated with the region there are small towns that have some even different accent. or aceeent. or ockcent. Just our lil smelting pot here. So when you say american accent, which American accent are we speaking of? LA or NY? or somewhere in between?
JaimeeQuote Reply
See, Rer, I said no one would agree with me about Tea Leoni. Pros- She's blond. No, I am not all caught up in appearances being the end all and be all of casting, but being a naturally golden blond is a big plus. She's gorgeous, statuesque even. She can play a wide range of strong women- see "Deep Impact" for quietly strong and likable to "Spanglish" for b*tch on the brink of a nervous breakdown. I think she's underrated as an actress. I'm just having fun throwing stuff out there, no reason to take it too seriously.
AnonymousQuote Reply
This is Lauren Ambrose. She is amazing. I wanted to be Cersei, but if it can't be me then I'd like to see Lauren Ambrose. She is 31. She can play sweet yet phychotic type evil. She is an amazing actress with a previous if not exsisting relationship with HBO. Just look at this:
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e195/Red_Tempest/Redheads/untitled.jpg
Now imagine those reptilian green eyes with blone hair. Okay I'm 89% sure I'm not gay but this chick has the hot plus the chop!
JaimeeQuote Reply
Yeah…not taking the Tea Leoni idea seriously. Not unattractive, but I'm just not a fan of her. I think they can do better.
AnonymousQuote Reply
Ambrose doesn't look old enough…and she's creepy looking to boot.
AnonymousQuote Reply
Go with the Baston accent! Ya could have the Lannistuhs come straight from the Cahsterlee Rack, and cahll their Honor guard the "Stateys."
LOL.
Seriously, though, something from the Northeast or Mid-Atlantic states could be cool. New York? It would definitely give the production a "global" feel to it.
ebvQuote Reply
I don't think I could watch the show if they used Boston accents. That particular accent is like nails on a chalkboard to me. They should just stick with British accents.
AnonymousQuote Reply
Yah Id be way better LOL. No seriously. Look here
http://www.komarckart.com/ccg_agot05.html
and then back at her
and I don't find her overly creepy. she can have her creepy moments. But then so does cersei. Plus she could pass for Gleeson's mom and that's as old as she needs to look.
JaimeeQuote Reply
Oh Meh gawd yeh it shed be baasten! Hehehe. They could save moyney on the soads and hand out bats! now theys a battle fo yuh!
JaimeeQuote Reply
Well, Jennifer Ehle has played Lady Macbeth on stage. I doubt very many people would describe her as a pleasant woman, or "too nice". Just a thought for those who fear JE will be too much smiles & sunshine…
AnonymousQuote Reply
Georges Vision:
http://z.about.com/d/beauty/1/0/C/w/Nicole_kidman_blonde.jpg
My suggestion:
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e195/Red_Tempest/Redheads/untitled.jpg
and she was voted amongst the hottest redheads.
JaimeeQuote Reply
I tried to post this before, but cannot see it anywhere – so hopefully this won't appear twice.
Jennifer Ehle has played Lady Macbeth on stage, whom few would describe as a pleasant woman, or "too nice". For those who think Jennifer Ehle will be too sweet.
AnonymousQuote Reply
Is anyone elsesuffering from Game of Thronus Maximus Attention Distractus otherwise known as GOTMAD? I'm tryin to watch a perfectly good historical movie and before I know it, my head is tilted to the side and I'm ENTIRELY focused on the sets and the set dress and the wardrobe and I have entirely missed the plot somehow. I am at work and I go to check for emails and suddenly somehow I'm on the WIC website with no recollection of how I got there. Even as I ponder this conundrum, my finger autopilot me to Not a Blog. I get home and begin my varios household projects and I find myself sitting at the desk "just checking WIC right quick" yet i can't recall walking there from the sink. If these symptoms sound eerily familiar, you too may be suffering fom GOTMAD. I'm afraid there is no known cure as of yet.
JaimeeQuote Reply
"A common accent in the states is the lack of an accent. People from the west and midwest commmonly do not have an accent at all. "
Everyone has an accent. The midwestern accent might seem "transparent" to most Americans, but not to e.g. Brits.
AusirQuote Reply
Going over AGOT, it seems Jaime's role is quite limited. At the beginning of the book he is part of Robert's entourage to Winterfell. This would be probably covered in the season in the first and second episodes. Then, around half-way through the book, he participates in the king's tourney, and then attacks Eddard's men and escapes. This, again, should be covered in a couple of episodes. Near the end of the book, he participates in a raid and is captured by Robb. That's all.
In the second book it's even worse, since he only appears in one scene, when Catelyn visits him in his cell. He starts as a major character only in the third book.
This makes me think that either Jaime would be very difficult to cast since they obviously need a decent actor that would be willing to take a back seat for a couple of seasons, or that Jaime's role is going to be spiced up. I suppose they would take the second approach.
amirmQuote Reply
@Jamiee
In the picture you've liked to, I agree that Lauren Ambrose could make a good Cercei. However, looking at the other pics out on Google, I just don't think she's pretty enough. As a guy, I'm pretty surprised she was voted most beautiful redhead. She sort of looks like the girl from That 70s Show to me.
Sorry to disagree with you. I'm usually on board with just about everything you post here.
furreverQuote Reply
Please, please don't let them ruin this production with American accents. I'm American myself, but I realize that American accents don't work in fantasy/medieval/period pieces. Take Kevin Costner in Robin Hood for example.
furreverQuote Reply
"I'm American myself, but I realize that American accents don't work in fantasy/medieval/period pieces. "
Ever seen Conan the Barbarian?
AusirQuote Reply
There's a recent article in the San Francisco Chronicle that reads as though Thrones has already been picked up.
HBO is also excited about the drama "Game of Thrones," which begins shooting in the fall.
Do they know something we don't or is this just sloppy journalism? I'm guessing the latter, but it's still fun to speculate.
furreverQuote Reply
OMG I'll be good I will I will is a line out of Silence of the Lambs, perhaps they have cast Hopkins as Luwin…or Varys…
JaimeeQuote Reply
…or perhaps you're reading too much into it.
AusirQuote Reply
I highly doubt Hopkins would take a minor role on an HBO production.
furreverQuote Reply
OMG I'll be good I will I will is a line out of Silence of the Lambs, perhaps they have cast Hopkins as Luwin…or Varys…
Or maybe Ted (Buffalo Bill) Levine as…um…I don't know…but it puts the lotion on its skin and that it puts it in the basket.
BrudeQuote Reply
@furrever
"Please, please don't let them ruin this production with American accents. I'm American myself, but I realize that American accents don't work in fantasy/medieval/period pieces. Take Kevin Costner in Robin Hood for example."
this line of thinking doesn't make sense. first off it's a fantasy novel set in a fantasy world. British accents aren't middle or old english anyways. American,Ozzy, NZ accents are all variations on a common british accent and they all diverge from common points in time. So none of the accents would be correct for a medieval piece. Also watching rome with british actors playing romans didn't hurt the sense of immersion for most even though it was out of place. So enough on the accents already because it doesn't matter that much as long as everyone uses a similar accent based off of the region they come from in the novels, i.e. brits for starks and americans for Lanisters, or even having the actors match accents, whatever.
RerQuote Reply
I think Ms.Ehle is a fine choice for Lady Catelyn Stark…I'm not familiar with her work but looks wise she fits the bill for me…She must have blown them away in the audition process…that's good enough for me….by the way I think she's a very classy looking woman !….please please Ray Stevenson as the hound….Lina Leandersson as Arya…James Callis as Littlefinger….Kaya Scoldelario as Dany….Micheal Hogan as Tywin and Alexander Skarsgarrd as Jamie…Katee Sackhoff as Brienne !
coltaine777Quote Reply
The subject of accents is an interesting one. Addy and Bean both have Yorkshire accents (though one northern and one southern but there's little perceivable difference unless you're from there). As I understand it, Eddard and Robert come from different parts of Westeros (or do they) and would, by rights, have differing accents. I also doubt that Ehle (who has a very proper english accent) will be 'going northern' for the show. I'm guessing Addy will retain his strong yorksire brogue to accentuate Robert's brashness, whereas Bean will use his faux 'proper' english (as heard in LotR) to sound more noble, and not out of place when acting beside Ehle.
FordyQuote Reply
I think a Scottish accent would be appropriate for people from the North, actually.
AusirQuote Reply
I think the wildlings would have the Scottish accents
AnonymousQuote Reply
"Everyone has an accent. The midwestern accent might seem "transparent" to most Americans, but not to e.g. Brits."
Exactly. I've never heard an accentless American. I've heard Americans with non-specific accents, but they still all sound American.
For me, accentless is Home Counties English, but I'm pretty sure anyone from outside the UK would still recognise it as an English accent.
SilverstarQuote Reply
@coltaine777: I LOVE your list. I wrote a very similar dreamcast in a Livejournal post few weeks ago.
AnonymousQuote Reply
Am I the only one who doesn't think that (being american aside) Edward James Olmos is the perfect Mormont?
DanQuote Reply
@Fordy
"What's with the Gillian Anderson obsession anyway."
Yes, stop obsessing over Gillian Anderson.
"What a horrendous piece of castng that would have been."
No, it wouldn't have: anyone who likes good acting would tell you that.
"Not only is she totally without a personality."
You know sh.. about her personality. STOP BASHING ACTORS.
"…but we'd have also had the old fudgey x-files crowd trying to claim ownership over the series – when it quite obviously belongs to us, as fans of the books :)"
X-Philes are a good crowd. They know what groundbreaking TV is. And I sympathize with Martin for having such "fans" as you.
alphabaseQuote Reply
@alphabase
You're actually a mentalist aren't you?
FordyQuote Reply
"What's with the Gillian Anderson obsession anyway."
To be honest, the 'obsession' seems to have been far more prevalent with people who didn't want her for the role than those who did. On the whole, people who liked her for the role would mention it, and people who didn't would burst into indignant flames and starting shouting about how awful she was. It was bizarre.
Quite glad that's over, actually, even though she would have been good in the role, had she been cast.
AnonymousQuote Reply
I have nothing against Gillian Anderson, per se. In fact, i thought her turn as Queen Vorkana in Robbie the Reindeer: Close Encounter of the Herd Kind, was pure acting genius.
FordyQuote Reply
@Anon
Actually, no. Right after Ehle was anounced, many Gillian Anderson fans started trashing the blog about how awful Ehle is and how wonderful Anderson would have been. Buttfuck was mentioned a few times, if I'm not mistaken. Now, I don't have a strong opinion against or for Anderson, so I'm pretty neutral on the subject. She might have been good for that role, but this is noe excuse for any grown up person to behave like that. A lot of the responses from Anderson fans are juvenile to say the least. It actually makes me wonder if all Gillian Anderson fans are infantile brats.
amirmQuote Reply
@amirm,
Actually, no, right after Ehle was announced, what you got was:
"PS Gillian Anderson people, I fart in your general direction. "
"Also, how long before we get the 'Anderson for Cersei' movement beginning? ;-) "
"Adam, I hope that movement starts. Otherwise, I would have nothing to bitch about. Unless people bring up Gemma Ward or Sasha Jackson again. "
"I'm extremely relieved and happy about their choice for Catelyn. I was literally getting anxiety–sleepless nights, cold sweats, depression, fevers, alienating friends and family–about Anderson getting that role. How could I have to grumble angrily through X-Files meets Westeros episodes, when the show is based on some of my favorite books? "
"Jennifer Ehle > Gillian Anderson. x 10. "
"Wow, imagine that. They got a real actress for Catelyn instead of Gillian Anderson. Hooray!!!!! "
and that is just the ones I found in two minutes of looking. There weren't any comments from fans in that time, saying she should have been cast instead. If there have been since, it may well have been in response to the baiting from the above comments and similar.
AnonymousQuote Reply
I'm just chuckling at some of these posts.
Jennifer Ehle is a beautiful woman and I can just tell just is going to nail Catelyn's character. People who think she's isn't pretty enough: I'm just glad you're not in charge of making a live action series of these awesome GRRM books. I'm sure that if you were, GOT would end up looking like a piece of pretty garbage.
I'm super impressed with the casting so far and excited beyond initial expectations of what HBO is capable of. The right people are in this project, it seems.
By the way, I'm just as if not more obsessed with being anti-Gillian Anderson for Catelyn as any pro-GA's are, only because of the relentless fanning of GA on multiple sites of at least 3 over-active posters that for reasons I will never understand, they wanted her so badly as Catelyn. I react not because I disagree with their opinions–but because their opinion was sick and wrong. ;) just joking, sparky.
I have to agree with Fordy, but I don't think the pro-GA's were just X-Files fans. I watched X-Files a lot, and I can't understand why anyone wanted her in the GOT series.
But all that nightmare is over with. phew!
bardamuQuote Reply
@Anon
So, what you're basically saying is that because people said that they think that Ehle is more suitable for the role than Anderson, and because some people said they think Anderson can't act, then some G.A. fans in retaliation said they would like to B.F Ehle?
Very mature…
amirmQuote Reply
No, I'm saying that the 'obsession' about GA was just as much from the other direction as it was from the pro-Anderson camp, rather than the board just being filled with a ton of X Files fans who were desperate to have her cast in the role. I doubt it would have turned into such a huge thing if the people who didn't like her had treated the suggestion the way every other suggestion had been treated and simply said "I don't really see it, I'd prefer X". Instead of that, it turned into a huge argument about misaligned eyes, people being bitches and evil, insults being thrown in both directions and all sorts of crap.
AnonymousQuote Reply
Wow, it's like a war. Nobody knows how it started and everyone is blaming the other party. WiC, give us a new subject, please.
AnonymousQuote Reply
Anon@6:37, you're just pissed… I'm enjoying seeing Ehle's face every time I come on WiC. I hope it lasts. Plus, GRRM might spills his monsters or anagrams or beans soon.
bardamuQuote Reply
@bardamu
I'm not pissed, I love Ehle, i think she's perfect. Just don't want to see fighting and trolling around.
AnonymousQuote Reply
"OMG I'll be good I will I will is a line out of Silence of the Lambs, perhaps they have cast Hopkins as Luwin…or Varys.."
I can see him better as Tywin :P
LeonQuote Reply
"I will, I will" is also apparently something regularly said by Froggy the Gremlin, along with all the stuff about "plucking his magic twanger", so I'm guessing it's not got anything to do with casting hints, and just carrying on the Froggy theme.
AnonymousQuote Reply
@Bardamu & Amirm & all the other people whining about Gillian Anderson.
Did Gillian Anderson kill your mother or something? The hate is almost radiating of the screen. Some anonymous guy comes along who makes a perfectly fair point, namely that most of the trolling and flaming is from the anti-GA group (This is absolutely true, go reread the first 200 comments if you don't think so) and you start bashing him for no reason at all.
So, I ask again. Did Gillian Anderson kill your mother? No? Then get on with your life.
Let me add I have never seen a single episode of X-files or Pride and Prejudice in my life and really don't care about either actrice.
yoenitQuote Reply
Gillian Anderson: 1. her X-Files fans put her on a pedestal that was bound to fail under her feet 2. putting undue attention on her that ended up being embarrassing and 3. who cares, she'll get another job and everyone will move on.
There is a huge difference between putting a list of your dreams actors up, and for months (years?) talking about how Gillian Anderson is perfect for Catelyn bla bla bla. Ultimately, her fans did not do her a service but merely acted as "those crazy, wacky fans". It's to be expected.
AnonymousQuote Reply
yoenit, you can't tell others to move on if you haven't moved on as well, eh? My advice to you is ignore it since it bothers you so much. You can only control yourself, guy.
AnonymousQuote Reply
"Ultimately, her fans did not do her a service but merely acted as "those crazy, wacky fans". It's to be expected."
Not really. Most of her fans simply mentioned she would have been good in the role, then got flamed for it by people like bardamu, who appears to only hang out here to troll anyone who mentioned her in a positive light. If everytime someone happens to give a casting suggestion for someone they would like to see in a role, they get trolled to death, either they'll disappear off the board due to not wanting to deal with it, or they'll start to respond in kind. Here, it appeared to be the second option.
AnonymousQuote Reply
@yoenit
You must be confused. I never whined about GA and I certainly don't hate her. I actually think she might have been good for the role. All I said was that some of her fans are being very rude and infantile.
amirmQuote Reply
Ehle +1.
ThomasQuote Reply
@amirm
I think if you go and look, the 'buttfucked' comments you are so upset by were made by some random Anonymous poster in relation to the Hound, prior to the Ehle casting announcement being made. As such, it almost certainly had nothing to do with her, and could have been made by anyone – pro, anti or apathetic about Anderson.
AnonymousQuote Reply
I hate GA ….. AS CATELYN. I am evidently rude and immature. SO WHAT? You guys can't handle my opinion, stop trolling me.
bardamuQuote Reply
BTW WiC, you can add Ehle to the casting post. Its too nice an overview list not to update. :) Perhaps make it a featured post like the Sean/Dinklage ones?
SparqQuote Reply
Yeah, I think the Ehle is ugly thing was probably from someone who wanted that chick from 300 to be in it. No one cares, or should have cared. That is what started this argument. As far as I am concerned, it's embarrassing to still be talking about GA. It's over.
bardamuQuote Reply
@bardamu, anon, yoenit plus any annoting troll
yes, please, let's move on.
amirmQuote Reply
I haven't read what everyone's posted, but I'm pretty sure I'm going to say the same thing as many others – Jennifer Ehle is a fabulous choice for Catelyn! I loved her in P&P – which I have watched about a hundred times – and in Posession. I remember one night when I was bored flicking through channels I saw her again in a program – not sure what it was – with dread locks, a fag – cigerette to those of you who are americans – and swearing like a drunk teenager – now as someone who has only ever seen her in period dramas this was quite scary for me! lol! however, she was just as good an actress in that program as she was in both of the other two.
I really believe that she is the only person who will be able to make me actually like Catelyn – not a huge fan of her character. And for those of you who aren't fans of her's, I think you may be pleasantly surprised by her performance. :-)
SarahQuote Reply
'This Year's Love' she has dreadlocks and is a bit rough. That might be what you're thinking of.
FordyQuote Reply
Ed Harris For Tywin!!!
harrismanQuote Reply
Ed Harris is pretty much a book perfect Tywin
LegionQuote Reply
anyone heard any rumours on what else GMM may know? I am keen to see if the kids are close to being cast….(or whether its more adults he knows about)
AnonymousQuote Reply
"Am I the only one who doesn't think that (being american aside) Edward James Olmos is the perfect Mormont?"
I think that Ian McShane would be better.
AusirQuote Reply
During Obama's inauguration, I had the pleasure of talking to Ed harris and helping him connect with his drv for the day (i work at a black-car service) He was a very nice and understanding man because there was alot of street closings that day and drv's need special passes and passwords … so he gets my vote for Tywin … but I'm also partial to 2 others … and I know their long shots … Patrick Stewart and Kurtwood Smith
LadyNYC74Quote Reply
"anyone heard any rumours on what else GMM may know? I am keen to see if the kids are close to being cast….(or whether its more adults he knows about)"
There's a lot of people seeing him this weekend at WorldCon, poised to try to divest him of any knowledge he has on the series, so I would expect we might hear a few more announcements after the weekend.
SilverstarQuote Reply
Although Ed Harris would be a great Tywin – I mean, that's a given -, I'm really rooting for Charles Dance to get the role. Great, underappreciated actor, and just look at any photos from Bleak House… IMHO he basically IS Tywin. :)
GainesQuote Reply
OMG Ed Harris says "Ill be good I will I will" in the Abyss special addition.
Ed Harris as Tywin!
AnonymousQuote Reply
I could live with Ed Harris for Tywin, although I admit my preference is Patrick Stewart. I would love for Stewart to be in the show in some capacity. Kurtwood Smith I can also see, although I think I'd prefer Harris over him.
littlebootsQuote Reply
Tywin isn't in the pilot is he? He won't be cast for a while yet.
FordyQuote Reply
@Littleboots
Stewart is a great actor but I doubt he'll be in AGoT. :(
RerQuote Reply
Stewart enjoys being in the stage in London too much to commit to a big role, but maybe a cameo?
AnonymousQuote Reply
Can't we install a filter that takes out all Gillian Anderson posts, pro or anti? It's gotten a bit old.
I, for one, am extatic with he casting of Jennifer Ehle. For those that are not familiar with her work, and might be concerened she looks too 'soft'. Worry not! She will be steel when she needs to be, she has been before.
AnonymousQuote Reply
I've updated the cast and crew post. Will be adding a link to it on the sidebar shortly.
Also thanks to Ryan for the Ehle featured stories banner!
WinterIsComingQuote Reply
Yeah, I realize Stewart being in AGoT is a long shot, but a girl can dream can't she? ;) I'd be happy with him in a bit part even.
littlebootsQuote Reply
The I'll be good stuff is just another quote from that Froggy character GRRM seems to like so much.
As for Stewart, he actually said recently he enjoys doing cameos, so you never know
LegionQuote Reply
@ Gaines
I like Charles Dance … i've seened him around (Golden Child, Alien 3, and some Bond films) He can play bad really good!!!
LadyNYC74Quote Reply
Oh yes please mr Casting Director!! Put Ed Harris in here – on ANYTHING and I'll be a happy girl for ages!
That man is good in anything! Can do any role and perfect it!
Am wicked jealous of you LadyNYC74… ;)
Ed Harris as Tywin would be awesome. He seems to me like a guy who could appreciate the finer qualities of GRRM's work aswell… Anyone for posting him a copy of AGOT..? ;) Next marketing phase of our underground movement…
Let's all hope this show becomes as big a success as we know it can be – and along will come many many awesome celeb 'cameo' roles…
Btw. Phew… Very entertaining comment reading here. But so glad it cooled down. Was expecting to start hearing about it on CNN news next…
All is well and good in this world, my friends – because AGOT is only 2(!) months away!!! ;D
LivveyQuote Reply
I'd love to see Ed Harris as Tywin, but doesn't he show up for the first time in the third book? That would mean that we probably won't see him until the end of season II or season III.
I'll continue with my fingers crossed for Michael Fassbender as Jaime and David Thewlis as Littlefinger!
EmpedoclesQuote Reply
@ Empedocles
Tywin shows up in the first season when Tyrion comes dow (with the clansmen) from the high road into his camping army.
So Tywin should be cast to the first season.
Quiet WolfQuote Reply
@Empedocles – Tywin first appears towards the end of book one, but yes, he's not a big presence until book three.
As far as Littlefinger goes – Guy Pearce is always who I see in my head when I think of him. Thewlis would be alright though.
littlebootsQuote Reply
@ littleboots – Guy Pearce is awesome, but I sort of picture him more as Jaime than Littlefinger.
Regarding Tywin, you're right, I forgot about that, the scene between Tywin and Tyrion by the end of book one.
I was thinking, though, that there's so much going on in the story that is not described expressly in the books, that any role may be enlarged, should they desire to do so.
EmpedoclesQuote Reply
I will personally "plunk GRRM's magic twanger" all night long if that is what it takes to remove that absolutely HORRID line in the leaked script where Ned tells Cait that he "isn't a dog to command". Someone going to Worldcon please bring that up in the Q&A with George! For the sake of the series!
AnonymousQuote Reply
"I cannot disagree with this casting more. ALl the pics and Vids I see make her look to old and UGLY."
So, I hate to feed the troll, but if you think JE is ugly you have serious standards issues. She is a very beautiful woman. Her face is very classically beautify and she has a fantastic body. I understand that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but JE can't possibly be considered ugly by any stretch of the imagination.
FalconGK81Quote Reply
WiC: Really, time to stop the ability to post without an account, it will really help with the trolls…
As for casting Tywin and Littlefinger, I REALLY hope we hear something soon. Neither is in the Pilot, so if they get cast it means the show has been picked up by HBO!
PatEllis15Quote Reply
@FalconGK81 – I agree with you, but I do think some posters seem to have some pretty high out there notions of beauty. I seem to recall someone fussing over some girl for having misaligned eyes (I was expecting to see some hideous girl, but picture showed a very pretty young girl whose eyes looked fine as far as I could tell).
littlebootsQuote Reply
I'm glad there's people here who hate that "not your dog to command" line too. Not as critical as "for sake of the series" but nevertheless a dumb line that makes Ned look really assholeish. Sure, people want their badass male hero, but he does respect his wife.
AnonymousQuote Reply
Jennifer Ehle is lovely looking. She looks great for Catelyn.
I think she looks like a younger version of Meryl Streep, actually.
SilverstarQuote Reply
Yea, I agree with the "not your dog to command" line… as well as the "i don't fight in tourney's because if I fight a real battle, I don't want the enemy to know what I can do." Both of those lines just don't seem like something Ned would say, at all. And with the second line, part of the reason I like aSoIaF so much is because GRRM doesn't write his characters to say stupid lines like that.
Obviously we are overly-critical. They are just two lines that people won't think much of… and I realize that have to play up certain things because much that we learn about the characters in the book isn't through dialogue but their internal thoughts and feelings… but yea, I hope that they limit the changes made in the future, because both of those ones just aren't good lines if you ask me and makes me worry what would happen if they made some larger changes.
The ChrisQuote Reply
The Chris, that's another line, about real battles, that seemed off to me. Good catch. Ned's pretty badass, but you kinda love him because he doesn't feel the need to strut, it makes him more innately confident. I know this is just an early draft, at least it's possible to hope so, it would just be nice to know there'll be changes. And I don't see a problem in voicing discontent if it's done reasonably.
AnonymousQuote Reply
@ The Chris – Agree completely! I absolutely hate Eddard's line about fighting in tournaments (I had almost forgotten about it). I hope they can polish it up – or just flat out remove it – because it sounds ridiculous as it is.
littlebootsQuote Reply
"I will be good, I will, I will" is just another quote from Froggy the Gremlin and I am more and more convinced that it has nothing to do with who has been cast. I am hopeful that if one casting was leaked than others will be coming soon. I think that the bigger name actors and actresses would be leaked first and maybe this means that no names will be cast for the remaining parts
BurkeQuote Reply
Don't worry about that. The script will probably be polished 1 billion times before it gets filmed and I'm pretty sure Sean Bean can twist any stupid line to make it sound meaningful.
EmpedoclesQuote Reply
Personally, I think all the comments about Ehle being "ugly" are out of hand. They're sexist and off base. Nobodies complaining about how ugly the guys are. The idiots calling her ugly are probably fat, butt-faced slobs. Get a life.
AnonymousQuote Reply
@ the american accent
Yes I should stop trying to think straight in the wee morning hours. So I retract my statement that western staters have no accent. I meant compared to other staters but of course to the rest of the marble we do.
See I'm losin sleep over this stuff and I obviously need it.
Ed Harris wold make a good Tywin but then again I'm a lifelong Stewart fan. Yet I don't picture him as Tywin. I see him as Luwin. His comforting tone being the voice of reason to Catlyn and Ned. Have to age him up a bit but he is such a goood actor I'd love to see him on this project.
@those of you who have the issue of Ehle allegedly not being drop dead gorgeous?
WOW bitter much? Ehle was, is and will undoubtedly continue to be absolutely gorgeous. You are ony attacking from that angle because her acting is exemplary. So like a small child who has run out of things to say…you point and whine "weeeeLL SHE'S ugly."
And just because I don't think it's been said today……
WE BELEIVE IN YOU KIT!
Now where's my coffee?…
JaimeeQuote Reply
On a side note, if I were GRRM, I would be having tons of fun with all of us.
Surely he has realized how much everyone is picking apart his postings and coming up with some pretty creative(though, off the wall) theories.
I would start dropping random acronyms and catch phrases all over the place, just because it has to be fun to watch us squirm. :)
The ChrisQuote Reply
Oh yea, I'm not sure if anyone can answer this…
Is there any rhyme or reason to when castings get "leaked"? Is it that Catelyn just now was made official and then the information gets out? Or is it likely that they already have most of the casting done and are just letting things out in a strategic way? Or would the execs prefer that none of this had gotten out until they were done and made their final casting announcements?
Anyone know anything about how this stuff works?
The ChrisQuote Reply
The Game of Thones gods heard our call for some female casting! Wooo hoo!!!
Now, I have to be completely honest and say that I am totally unaware of Ehle's resume. However, I think she is absolutely NOT ugly…and think she has the look of Catelyn Stark. And if GRRM gives her the thumbs up, I am sure she will be great.
I want to see Cersei and Jaime cast!!!
PlainJaneQuote Reply
It's funny to see so much speculation around the casting of characters like Tywin, Jaime, Drogo, and the Hound. Drogo has maybe a dozen lines, and Tywin only shows up for the battle at the Trident. They're great characters, but they play relatively limited roles in the first book. In my opinion, Ludwin, Sam, and Jorah are much bigger parts, but I've seen almost no casting suggestions for any of them.
Not that I have any myself. Just an observation.
izakmoQuote Reply
@ "Anyone know anything about how this stuff works?"
Well I really don't but….One almost wonders if they are permissable to small bits and pieces of info to gauge the feeding frenzy on each of the littlest snippets. In which case I believe our collective voice has spoken. This has to be one THE most anticipated TV series in a while if not ever. Could be my biased opinion…on the same token however, it sure seemed like GRRM thought that he was going to get to leak it. So it could be in essence like trying to plug the damn with your finger so to speak.
I know I'm plugging the book everywhere I go…convinced the scooper at Baskin Robbins to read it last nite. I just carry the book around everywhere and read it whenever I can to refresh my memory as we go into this exciting venture. Or quest as it were…hehehehe.
JaimeeQuote Reply
@izakmo – You have a point. They are minor characters in the first book, but I have a feeling Jaime will be expanded – so his casting is important (or even if the role isn't expanded, he's very important later so they need to cast him properly now). As for the other three bigger roles you listed, I can actually see those getting minimized for TV. I'm not saying I want that to happen, but there's always the potential.
In regard to Sam – I know this awful, but I always see the kid from Bad Santa when I read his sections.
littlebootsQuote Reply
Chris: I'm not positive but I believe that HBO just sends a press release to THR, Variety, Reuters, etc. If it shows up on any of those sites, it isn't a leak, but HBO announcing it.
I don't think there is anything strategic about them releasing the news either. Although it is a big deal to us, HBO doesn't look at it as a big deal. It's business as usual for them. Someone is cast and when they get a chance a press release is written about it and released to the media.
WinterIsComingQuote Reply
Jorah= Joe Flannigan. with some scruff to his General appearance.
JaimeeQuote Reply
@WiC: Yea, I have to agree with you. To us it seems like the biggest thing in the world, but in the "real world" its not as much of a big deal, just business as usual.
I just know with movies / shows that already have a huge fanbase beforehand… casting and leaks and news can gather a lot of attention, at least from existing fans… so I wondered if it is something they may try to play off to try and create buzz.
On the other hand, from HBO's end, they may try to play it cool either way until at least knowing if a show is going to be picked up or not. While having a huge groundswell is never a bad thing, if there is a huge ravenous fan base building up, and then they decide to pass on the show… that may have some negative implications as well.
The ChrisQuote Reply
@Jaimee – Is that Stargate Atlantis Joe Flanigan you are referring to? If so, I don't think he looks right at all (even if you put a balding cap on him and scruff him up) – too pretty.
littlebootsQuote Reply
@littleboots – I actually think Ludwin, Jorah, and to a lesser degree Sam will need to play greater roles due to geography.
Once Cat leaves Winterfell, Ludwin is the only adult foil for Bran and Robb. I don't think HBO will expect kids to carry the Winterfell storyline.
Jorah is Dany's only friend. If he doesn't play a big role, all we'll have is Dany cowering before Viserys.
Sam is likewise the main character Jon interacts with on the wall.
I think it's more likely King's Landing characters will need to be marginalized (or even cut) to avoid overwhelming watchers.
But I agree that the pilot script suggests Jaime will be more present in the show than the book.
izakmoQuote Reply
@Jaimee – Joe Flannigan?!?
Wow, it's funny how different people picture the characters.
I see Jorah looking more like a James Gandolfini without the gut. Not that I'm suggesting Gandolfini for the role.
izakmoQuote Reply
Yep, I think Jamie's role would be spiced up, too. Also, if they do get to make a second season, I wonder what they're going to do with him as he spends most of the second book locked in the dungeons of riverun…
amirmQuote Reply
@izakmo – You're quite right, and I do hope they give them the screen time they each deserve.
And now that I think about it, I do wonder how they're going to go about Bran's storyline. His story is a bit sluggish at times – and I can see how it might be easy to overlook him (I admit I occasionally forget about him when I'm thinking about the series).
littlebootsQuote Reply
Yes SgA I know its a little out there but he is available and I think he could do GreatJohn really well. He is well trained in many different fighting techniques as well.
OMG I said Jorah I actully meant GreatJohn. Seeing Jorah mentioned made me think of how important GreatJohn will be.
Oop.
Ok goin for some more coffee. wish I could take a nap…
JaimeeQuote Reply
Wow, 339 posts in this thread. 1/3 from people whose only hobby is bashing beautiful, talented women, or calling names those who are against bashing. Very refreshing. The Cersei actress will probably get even more love and respect from the community.
On the accents in the series: please, no American English.
alphabaseQuote Reply
WIC is right. The stories you read in THR and Variety usually come from press releases put out by HBO (actually, they seem to only be sending them to THR lately for some reason…don't know why). It might be that one of the PR people simply calls up their friend working at THR and says we're officially announcing this person and that person have been cast, but I think it's just as easy for them to write an email.
If you read it in THR or Variety, it's because someone involved in the project wants the information officially released.
I think I mentioned this here once or twice before, but I've written press releases for such things that were copied almost verbatim in Variety or THR and then later went out on the AP wire as news stories only then to get reprinted (still with my own words) as stories in other newspapers or news sites like CNN.com. It's kind of weird to see that happen. It's like you can just make up your own news if you want to and the whole world will read it.
BrudeQuote Reply
Hooray for modern journalism.
AnonymousQuote Reply
Think it might be pretty traditional journalism as well… but one thing I wonder about, and those in the know might know far more about: Is the usually this much attention paid to pilots of series based on the books? What is the usual amount of attention usually given by the public to casting of parts in pilots of series?
Thoros of Myr
AnonymousQuote Reply
"It's like you can just make up your own news if you want to and the whole world will read it."
You can in fact do this. I don't remember the person who died, but someone famous died, and people went to wikipedia and attributed false quotes to that person. Sure enough, in all the obituaries in respected papers they were crediting the person with the false quotes.
The reason Sam isn't getting any casting speculation (well, hardly any) is because he doesn't appear in the pilot, and at the moment, the pilot is what we're focused on. Yes he plays a major role later on, but it isn't relevant to the pilot. Same goes for Tywin.
FalconGK81Quote Reply
On the topic of Ned's fighting in tourneys line, what if they changed it to:
"I no longer fight in tourney's because I've since learned that the mark of a man is more than just his prowess on the battlefield."
That seems more like a line Ned would deliver, and it still functions as a slight to Jaime's manhood.
furreverQuote Reply
@furrever – Well that certainly rolls off the tongue better than the line in the script. :)
littlebootsQuote Reply
I second and third furrever's revision of that line.
"I no longer fight in tourney's because I've since learned that the mark of a man is more than just his prowess on the battlefield."
works just great.
AnonymousQuote Reply
"Think it might be pretty traditional journalism as well… but one thing I wonder about, and those in the know might know far more about: Is the usually this much attention paid to pilots of series based on the books? What is the usual amount of attention usually given by the public to casting of parts in pilots of series?"
Sweet bugger all, to be honest. If you compare it, BOARDWALK EMPIRE has received a moderate amount of attention and some interest because it's Scorsese and Buscemi, and that's probably an unusual amount of coverage for a pilot. TREME has gotten much less coverage, even though it's the new series from the creator of what seems to be widely regarded by light-years as the finest TV series of the 2000s (and possibly ever made), THE WIRE and featuring some of the same cast.
By contrast, the coverage GAME OF THRONES is getting is huge, especially as the books, although major sellers, are not in the superleague of sales occupied by the likes of Jordan or Pratchett. It's possibly because it's much more geared towards the geek community than anything else HBO has ever done, or because every decision they've made is the right one, or simply because whilst they're not vast mega-sellers, people who like the books tend to REALLY like them.
I think Mo Ryan and a few other TV critics have commented that the attention the series is getting even though the pilot is two months away from filming is extraordinary.
Adam WhiteheadQuote Reply
Yea furrever, much better! Something like that seems like something he might actually say, which alone is a huge improvement. Another idea would be to just be truthful. I've always thought he didn't like the idea of the tourney's because they make a spectacle out of something he takes very seriously and something that's taken so much from him.
I'm not going to even try to come up with an actual line though, yours works just fine… and much better.
The ChrisQuote Reply
Perhaps the "I am not your dog to command, my
lady." line can be changed simply to:
"I know what I must do, my lady."
said in a stern voice?
Dragon of WinterQuote Reply
Alternatively:
Ned (in stern voice): "I know what must be done, my lady."
Dragon of WinterQuote Reply
I wonder if the success of True Blood will help with GoT being picked up. That show has been hugely successful (despite not being nearly as good as some of the other recent HBO shows – my opinion). But its another niche genre based off a series of mediocre books, and has been really popular.
Part of that can definitely be the current Vamp popularity, but I think theres a lot of parallels between the two series that could help convince them that this may actually be really successful. Add in the current groundswell that is already occurring, the great cast and crew that they already acquired… I'm feeling pretty optimistic!
The ChrisQuote Reply
@The Chris
Yeah, I agree and like your train of thought, perhaps something like:
"I find no levity in tourneys, only a bitter reminder of those the battlefield has robbed from me."
furreverQuote Reply
@PlainJane
"I want to see Cersei and Jaime cast!!!"
Hell yeah, me too, that announcement will cause a sh#$ storm in the comments, I can't wait, lol.
@The accent people
It's a fantasy world, accents if used heavily should be regional. Also I'm sure the Producers will be taking the target audience and the novels localization into account and for good reason.
RerQuote Reply
@Dragon of Winter
I'm in favor of your revision. It works much better for Ned's character. We need a suggestion box for D&D.
furreverQuote Reply
Ed Harris for Tywin. Patrick Stewart for…Syrio Forrel, of course. Perfect cameo role. Just So. But once again, talking about casting for roles NOT in the pilot is way too premature.
Smoldering HoundQuote Reply
A suggestion box would be quite nice. I really like your revision to the tourney line as it does a much better job at portraying something Ned would actually say. I wonder how feasible it would be to politely alert D&D to some minor "issues" some fans might have with a couple lines (literally) of the script that seem out of character. Then again, maybe they are aware of these already and have made a thousand revisions since that leaked script…but it would be nice to know that they know anyway.
Dragon of WinterQuote Reply
Do other people assign accents/nationalities to the peoples of the books? Do people think they should use actors with different accents for the different lands in the books?
I always think of the Northern characters as Scottish, the rest of Westeros as British, the Summer Islanders as Jamaican, the Braavosi as Spanish, Myr and Lys as French, the Dornish as Middle Eastern, the Thenns as Russian, and the Dothraki as Mongolian.
izakmoQuote Reply
I envision it something like this:
Wildlings: Scottish
NOrth: English
Kings Landing & Tully area & Lannister area: American
HIghgarden: Irish
Storm Lands: Cockney
Iron Islands: Scandinavian
Dorne: Arabic
Dothraki: Mongolian
Free Cities: mostly Italian\Spanish, but we know very little about them in general.
@izakmo, what makes you think of people from Lys and Myr (Salladhor Saan, Doreah, Taena and Thoros) as French? I can't see the connection myself.
yoenitQuote Reply
@yoenit
Couldn't say exactly why I always heard a French accent. I guess those characters struck me as sexy or flamboyant and that made me think France.
I actually thought of the Tyrells as Irish, too.
izakmoQuote Reply
I am starting to hate the comments on this blog now and I think I am going to have to stop reading. This used to be a small community with pretty interesting commentators but seems to have now degenerated to constant flaming and trolling. I would have been stoked if it was Gillian Anderson, but to be honest I would have been happy with anyone HBO chose and who GRRM was happy with, including Jennifer Ehle whom I have never heard of. Maybe if GA was chosen it would have polarized the community even more between those for/against so it's probably for the best. And to all those complaining about how "rabid" the GA fans are, I think we would have seen even worse if she *had* been cast from all those who hate her.
YackalQuote Reply
Gosh, it's the complainers of trolling that bring it back again and again to that dark place. Get over it already, things are getting really exciting.
bardamuQuote Reply
@yoenit
I like your idea home nugget. Nice breakdown.
RerQuote Reply
Let the trolls troll. I log onto Winter Is Coming and see 365 posts under one subject in less than two days, regarding a show that hasn't even had one ounce of footage shot yet.
Be happy with the "small" community we have now. Once HBO premiers this bad boy, we're going to be scrolling faster than than Littlefinger can count Lannister coins.
I don't even think the actors really know what's in store for them yet.
Kit Harington, welcome to TMZ.
About Yea HighQuote Reply
i think we should relish the moment we're in right now. just wait until they start making Hot Topic merchandise out of AGOT, and selling the books with the actors' faces on the cover. the commercialization of the books that we love is going to radically change our close-knit community. But I'm glad i read the books when I did; I feel like I'm part of something. We're building a pop cultural force together as a strong, loyal block of fans. I love my fellow WiC addicts!!!
MegQuote Reply
Wot's TMZ? The Miraculous Zigzag?
bardamuQuote Reply
OH YAY I'm getting so excited somebody stop me!
I LOVE GEORGE RR MARTIN!!!!
in a totally nonstalkerish kind of way…
JaimeeQuote Reply
Wot's TMZ?
TMZ is the largest gossip blog online. It's actually owned by AOL, I believe (I know it's owned by some big company). Anyway, he's saying welcome to crazy fandom, being in the media spotlight like never before and scads of paparazzi hanging outside your house day and night just to get an unbecoming picture of you picking up after your dog when it shits.
If the show is huge and someone really takes off as the star, it could easily happen. It happened to all of the "Sex In The City" stars as well the leads on the "Sopranos" and "Entourage." Now I think it's starting to happen with "True Blood," which seems to be turning into a real phenomenon.
BrudeQuote Reply
Ok who's at worldcon? it starts in the morning doesn't it???
Cue booze plyer!!!!
Ply that man would yuh?
Git er done!
JaimeeQuote Reply
Omfg I was just watching chapelle's show and Dante Nero was the buy who asked Negrodamus why white people love Wayne Brady!
WabawangaQuote Reply
yup. and he can ride a unicycle.
JaimeeQuote Reply
I'm pretty confident D+D are going to nail the casting side of the production….I love it so far….I'll be happy no matter who is cast !….I trust "THEM"….I'm very nervous about who handles the CGI/SFX(for the older crowd LOL )..:.how they depict that world and all of it's many wonders to me is also key to the whole story…there are so many 'cheese' moments if the CGI isn't top notch(I'm assuming a series order)…I just hope they spend the money to make this world as believable as possible!
coltaine777Quote Reply
Any idea ….what the budget is ?….Anyone?
coltaine777Quote Reply
WOW … so much to read
@ Empedocles
Am a big fan of David Thewlis so would love to see him in it, don't care at this point what part … as for Michael Fassbender, wasn't he the guy in 300 who gets his head cut off in front of his dad … cause if you mean him, then maybe for Jamie …
@ Littleboots
Guy Pierce for Littlefinger is not a bad idea. He reminds me of the actor Michael Wincott, who's also a bad-ass mother@#$%^& (Robin Hood, The Crow, Alien Resurrection) so I could see him as Littlefinger or Bronn …. and on a lighter note, when it came to Samwell, I pictured either Jonah Hill or Jerry O'Connelly when he was in Stand by Me … LOL
@ Smoldering Hound
Major Patrick Stewart fan, would love to see him involve in anyway, shape or form … so for me I'm way cool on Patrick being Syrio Forrel. The good thing about Patrick is his vast experience in playing good and bad guys … can you just imagine him training Arya … "Catch me a cat"
LadyNYC74Quote Reply
@NED'S new LINES
FFS ppl – GRRM is a Producer!!11!!!!!oneoneONE1!!
What means ANY line Not from the book MUST be more or less accepted by HIM. And if it's good enough for HIM…
It's like G'Kar's disciples scolding him for blasphemy over his own writing…
VoiceOfReasonQuote Reply
has Martin said anything new at the Worldcon? Gah, the wait is unbearable!!
AnonymousQuote Reply
Some folks on the Westeros boards met him yesterday and chatted for a bit, but apparently they decided it was a bit too early to start pumping him for info.
I've made sure they know to do so at some point this weekend, though!
SilverstarQuote Reply
Patrick Stewart as Syrio? Hell yes! But only if he can nail the "comic" side of that character. The accent, the gestures, the temperament…
RQuote Reply
Oh, and a little aside:
STEVEN WRIGHT as Dolorous Edd.
I know this is waaaaaay too early, but the I swear, when I first read A Clash of Kings, I really thought he was based on this guy. I mean Eddison Tollett is like THE stand-up comedian of Westeros.
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Steven_Wright
http://www.dandion.com/Images/Comedians/ComPorts/Steven%20Wright.jpg
He was in that Jarmusch movie, Coffee and Cigarettes (with Benigni in the very first sketch)
RQuote Reply
I've just read the Jodelle Ferland has been cast in Eclipse …. She's my first choice for Ayra, I wonder if this would conflict with her schedule , of course that's if she's picked
LadyNYC74Quote Reply
I reckon most of the kid roles will be taken by unknowns. They seemed to be casting too wide a net in looking for them for them to be really considering casting known actors.
SilverstarQuote Reply
Not like Gillian Anderson can't be still in this but as a different character. Its just that, after so long about hearing that GA 'May' be in the show it was a bit of a surprise to me that it was someone else. Honestly, when I first heard she may be in the cast I thought of Cersei not Catelyn but the more time went on the more the rumormill said she was the latter and not the former.
~Van
AnonymousQuote Reply
@R
Stewart can do 'comic' if his recent performances in Waiting for Godot are anything to go by. He'd make a great Syrio.
AnonymousQuote Reply
I'm really keen to find out who is playing Jaime, now.
Who is everyone's favourite pick for that role?
SilverstarQuote Reply
I'd prefer an unknown, but genial actor who looks exactly like the actress who'll eventually play Cersei.
RQuote Reply
Does anyone know how we stand with the magic twanger plunking bussiness?
AnonymousQuote Reply
We have people ready to do so. Probably at the BwB party when GRRM's had a few drinks :P
SilverstarQuote Reply
You are a gentleman, Silverstar:)
AnonymousQuote Reply
*checks anatomy*
I certainly hope I'm not!
;)
SilverstarQuote Reply
I'll mention a couple actors i'd love to see in got again. Bill Nighy and Crispin Glover. Also, I think Patrick Stewart is ok, a fine actor, but just throwing him in any role is not imaginative. It doesn't resonate with me at all.
AnonymousQuote Reply
it's wishful thinking, harmless banter in the hopes that the higher-ups are reading and hopefully taking notes so that they may ACTUALLY contact some of these people and offer them a part!!!!
LadyNYC74Quote Reply
We now have a new most-commented upon post :)
MarkoQuote Reply
@ Anonymous 9:12 AM – Bill Nighy is an interesting suggestion. I could see him as a member of the Greyjoy clan. Crispin Glover I can't really imagine in a role…although maybe Jaqen H'ghar.
As far as Stewart is concerned – I think he'd be a wonderful Syrio Forel as others have previously mentioned.
littlebootsQuote Reply
Jason Carter as anyone.
http://www.wildbadgers.net/jason.htm
AnonymousQuote Reply
Can't wait for more announcements in the coming days,I have to say that GOT has bigger name cast than any other show that HBO has right now.
ebleyesQuote Reply
If this show isn't picked up HBO will have hordes of angry ASOIAF fans moaning like Rome, Caravan and Deadwood fans did.
AnonymousQuote Reply
She's actually very close to how Catelyn looks in my mind, will be interesting to see how she takes on the personality of the worried, but strong mother Catelyn.
JoakimQuote Reply
Bill Nighy would make a great Balon (nice cameo) or super Roose Bolton(although he is too famous for such a small role id imagine).
Oddly though I have to admit that even though he looks nothing like the given description, he was how I pictured Tywin and imagined Tywin sounding. Stick him in a bald cap and sidies, he'd be great
LegionQuote Reply
Mandy Patinkin (the "Spaniard" from Princess Bride) for Syrio! He'd be perfect!
izakmoQuote Reply
@Silverstar
*checks anatomy*
I certainly hope I'm not!
;)
LOL, you are a lady and a saint. (better?)
furreverQuote Reply
(Much better ;) )
SilverstarQuote Reply
Mandy Patinkin was most recently in that profiling series and is now over weight. Maybe people should not suggest people based on how they looked 20 years ago without a warning that – someone who looks like this person did type thing.
AnonymousQuote Reply
@ anon 12:12PM
Ummm… if Mandy Patinkin is overweight, it must be an extremely recent development. I can't find one photo of him where he doesn't look fit. I think this shot was taken last year.
http://www.mandypatinkin.net/IMAGES3/mpmilken.jpg
izakmoQuote Reply
Wow, are all these detractors even LOOKING at that fabulous first pic of JE on GRRM's Not A Blog? If they want glamorous beauty, that is IT. The video clips were great – it's nice to see a range of her acting. I love JE in P&P and am super excited about this casting. So far, it is superb!
-C
AnonymousQuote Reply
I just got a brilliant idea while I was watching Nikita it hit me like five thousand volt lightening(although after that i wouldn't be alive to tell me revelation)Peta Wilson would be perfect for the role Cersei
AnonymousQuote Reply
Am I the only one who thinks we have enough "stars" on this show as it is? I'm perfectly happy with Dinklage, Bean, Addy, Ehle… but I think that's because I haven't seen them in too many movies. But having them, and Patrick Stewart, and Bill Nighy, and Agent Scully, etc… I think it would take awhile for me to really BELIEVE that they were the characters. Whereas an unknown actor such as the the guy playing Jon, I think when I see him, he will immediately become Jon in my mind.
In the end, its all about finding the highest quality actors who are right for the part… but at this point, I'm almost in favor of the unknown gems over the seasoned actors. HBO has a knack of knocking out the castings on their shows, so I know either way, they will find the "right" people.
As for Patrick Stewart, I vote for the absolutely hilarious CGI version of him used an Wolverine. Did anyone see that???
The ChrisQuote Reply
Alexander Skarsgård as Jaime!
Already been in two HBO productions (Generation Kill and True Blood), has the right physical appearance both in terms of looks and size.
Not too famous but still big enough for such a challenging and important role.
pluss he's a great actor!
should be a done deal..
AnonymousQuote Reply
Again just to make my point http://www.mpp3.net/wilson2.jpgp.jpg
AnonymousQuote Reply
Sadly, yes. I want my money back for Wolverine.
RQuote Reply
There's an actress named Agent Scully? News to me.
Knowns, unknowns. It's a vicious circle logic. Good actors simply create BELIEVABLE characters, regardless of how experienced they are.
AnonymousQuote Reply
@The Chris: Totally agree. Talented unknowns are a lot better than stars that will attract attention to themselves and distract the viewer from the story.
NatashaQuote Reply
yes but don't we all want good actors and haw would we know if they are good if we haven't seen them anywhere
AnonymousQuote Reply
@ the Chris
Yep – couldn't agree more! Thankfully it feels like HBO is more on line with that notion than any of us antsy fans are, filing away time trolling etc about this or that actor/actress.
It will be an awesome fall for everyone!
LivveyQuote Reply
@Anonymous 10:04 am
I loved Jason Carter in B5. Maybe as Benjen Stark?
meinaQuote Reply
I'm quite happy with anyone for the parts, so long as they have the talent to pull them off well. We have a couple of 'big names' to attract attention to the project, so names or no-names are fine as far as I'm concerned now.
SilverstarQuote Reply
@Anonymous –
I'm laying my faith in the casting directors to find the right actors… we won't know if they are good until we see them, but I'm sure that the producers are going to be damn sure they are good before they cast them
The ChrisQuote Reply
@little boots.
I agree Crispin Glover is a strange choice, but he is a ffantastic actor and I believe he can do any part. Nighy is obvious since is close to being typecast. Patrick Stewart poor guy is typecast as the same character in high profile productions, so he carries a lot of bad weight, I can't see him as Syrio–not Wiley and strange enough according to my reading.
AnonymousQuote Reply
@Anonymous 2:18 PM – Stewart can do strange. He was quite bizarre in Extras. I think he would be terrific. ;)
littlebootsQuote Reply
ANY NEWS FROM WORLDCON!?!?!?
please, please, please, please…
*breaks down, sobs*
Sorry about that…..
Thoros of Myr
AnonymousQuote Reply
"Alexander Skarsgård as Jaime!
Already been in two HBO productions (Generation Kill and True Blood), has the right physical appearance both in terms of looks and size."
Not much of a chance of him doing two major HBO series at a time, and there's not much of a chance of True Blood being canceled.
AusirQuote Reply
err…the only reason I suggested Stewart for Syrio was to deflect the suggestion for him as Tywin. :) I honestly don't expect him to be even considered for the show for cost reasons.
Smoldering HoundQuote Reply
Worldcon doesn't kick off properly until tomorrow and the big parties aren't until Friday/Saturday nights. Maybe we'll get some tidbits from GRRM at the weekend.
Adam WhiteheadQuote Reply
@ izakmo … nice one!!!!
AnonymousQuote Reply
@ Legion
About Nighy, me too! Except I always pictured Tywin's skin taught with bitterness and smooth with Lannister complection… kind of a golden young old man.
Funny; Tywin's evil is from how stern he is, and self-centered (or careful; the Lannisters are the last to help in wars), and I guess the bitterness of losing his wife.
I think that both Bill Nighy and Ed Harris could do it. They are both terrific actors. But, I think that also an establish but relatively unknown actors that matches that description would be more effective than settling for the sake of star power.
bardamuQuote Reply
AaaAA all day without internet and seee what happens? 428 posts!!! Nice. I love this spot WIC! Alrighty now.
According to not a Blog
http://grrm.livejournal.com/95570.html
Worldcon started today. I'm not sure if he kept that same schedule but the Worldcon website…
http://www.anticipationsf.ca/
has some cool stuff so we can see what's goin on and hopefully we can live vicariously through those lucky few of us attending. SO HEY! Lucky few! Details….Details….PLEASE!
please. PLEASE!
JaimeeQuote Reply
Here's a question … can Ed Harris pull off an english accent?? … it's a requirement for the part …
LadyNYC74Quote Reply
He played Beethoven….
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm3000277248/tt0424908
JaimeeQuote Reply
Here is the trailer. For Copying Beethoven….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxhLOcQGKHE
JaimeeQuote Reply
I don't know her but I like her look, and I like that they chose an unknown with acting talent. This seems a solid, serious choice, and IMHO the series looks even stronger as a result.
sevenwarlocksQuote Reply
Radha Mitchell for Cersei? Anyone, anyone? My previous comment about Tea Leoni (posted as anonymous)went over like a lead balloon,so since I am now totally addicted to this sight I thought I might make a more serious suggestion.
BrienneQuote Reply
@Brienne
"Radha Mitchell for Cersei? Anyone, anyone? My previous comment about Tea Leoni (posted as anonymous)went over like a lead balloon,so since I am now totally addicted to this sight I thought I might make a more serious suggestion."
Was the anon comment a test? Did we pass!!!
RerQuote Reply
Absolutely perfect choice – and who decides what is "beautiful" is anyway – although she does have beauty and talent. As anyone can tell you "beauty" alone does not a good performance promise…
AnonymousQuote Reply
Actually, I was totally serious about Tea Leoni. Call me a radical. Radha Mitchell would be more along the lines of what everyone else would be thinking and desiring though. I'm mad that someone else scooped me on mentioning Ed Harris for Tywin, though!
BrienneQuote Reply
PS- I'd make her (Rhada) eat a few cheeseburgers first. She's looking a little ani lately.
BrienneQuote Reply
I'm going to out myself as a huge Led Zeppelin geek by saying this, but reading the books I had always pictured a young Robert Plant as Jaime. For example: this picture from the Song Remains the Same even looks similar to this rendering of Jaime by Amok. I'm not saying the Robert Plant of today should be cast. HOWEVER that won't stop me from finding a young actor who looks like a Plant 2.0 for this part!
MegQuote Reply
Ughh, he has the last reading on the last day of Worldcon. I hope someone gets the news out of him before then.
FatTomQuote Reply
OOOO! I Love Robert Plant. I got to meet him a billion-ish years ago in Hawaii….He is very cool in person.
JaimeeQuote Reply
Unlike bruce willis who was not so cool. Maybe he was having an off day.
@those of you at worldcon…Sound off! Just kidding, but really what is going on up there in Canada AYE?
JaimeeQuote Reply
Has anyone gone to Worldcon and plied GRRM with booze and plunked his magic twanger???? It was supposed to start yesterday (August 6th), wasn't it???
ninamarthQuote Reply
If you're at Worldcon please don't pluck his twanger.
RerQuote Reply
@ ninamarth
Yah we've been asking but nobody's talkin :(
@worldcon peeps
HEY Nina is askin you guys to kick down some info too! Pretty please??? I'm trying not to beg but I just can't help it….OK Damnit Hang on…here…ok ….THERE> Now I am literally on my knees, so PLEASE…please. I hope I didn't get down here for nothin…
Hmm I wonder if I can order him a drink online and have a laptop open to WIC delivered to the table….Maybe that would plunk his twanger…
A girl can dream, right?
Wait that doesn't sound so lady like…on my knees talkin about twangers.
AAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!
I'M SO CURIOUS!!!!!
JaimeeQuote Reply
@Jaimee
I've always pictured Willis as a narcissist IRL, of course I have no idea what he's like IRL, he might be a cool dude.
RerQuote Reply
@ Rer
WEll he left a poor impression on me but I am only one person. I don't want flame the dude so like gramma said…"If yuh ain't got nuttin nice to say….keep yur #^*Damn mouth shut" LOL there's more to that but I'll keep it pg-13 for now hehehe. Love you Gramma. She's here somewhere.
JaimeeQuote Reply
@ladyNYC
So did you get a chance to check out EDhoven?
He looks pretty dang cool with that hair too. Dare I say Syrio hair???? He is a fine example of how hair and wardrobe can completely change the look of some actors. and actresses too, yuh know.
JaimeeQuote Reply
Oooh!!! Pretty please! I know there must be anyone who went to Worldcon…
ninamarthQuote Reply
I was thinking about secundary roles, and i had a vision of…. Jeremy Irons For a Benjen Stark cameo, look at him on Eragon, dress him with the black and he is a perfect Benjen.
I'm also thinking on a Josh Holloway playing Bronn.
At last, call me crazy, but i have the perfect "Actor" for Gregor clegane without CGI, i think that in the first book he is always with the helmet, so what do you think about "the Great Khali" for this role?
ZeroQuote Reply
I think Josh Holloway should be Jaimee, I think he would do the role justice. He has really come a long way on lost. No pun intented.
JaimeeQuote Reply
Oh my hell! I just had a thought about the "smile engimatically" thing, what if "The Charismatic Enigma" Jeff Hardy got himself a role? Hmmmm. Wonder who he will be….
JaimeeQuote Reply
George is lucky. I wish I was at Worldcon getting my twanger plunked… maybe by a fangirl dressed as Cersei or Ygritte.
FatTomQuote Reply
what is this, a women's sewing circle? gaggle of geese? ciao suckers, too much ghey in here.
larry manifold beefQuote Reply
then Good-Bye larry … will not be missed with that attitude …
@ Jamiee
Yes I did, and ur right, I didn't even recognize him … don't know if the accent's passable but I guess it will do if we want them to consider Harris
LadyNYC74Quote Reply
"what is this, a women's sewing circle? gaggle of geese? ciao suckers, too much ghey in here."
Oh good, the average number of brain cells per poster just went up.
AnonymousQuote Reply
I'll probably be crucified for that, but what do you think about Malcolm McDowell for Tywin?
amirmQuote Reply
"I'll probably be crucified for that, but what do you think about Malcolm McDowell for Tywin?"
That's an idea.
AnonymousQuote Reply
isn't he too old?
RQuote Reply
He's six years older than Bill Nighy, and three years older than Charles Dance, both of whom get mentioned as possible Tywins.
My personal preference is Charles Dance, but any of them would do!
AnonymousQuote Reply
I do think Jason Carter (the Babylon 5 one) as Benjen Stark would work:
http://www.fantasymundo.com/galeria/imagenes/cdhyf/benjen-stark.jpg
http://www.wildbadgers.net/Jasonautographed.jpg
And I agree that Peta Wilson could be a good Cersei.
meinaQuote Reply
Whoa, this is getting way off-topic actually. This is Catelyn and Jennifer Ehle we're talkin' about here, actually, remember? So…
SPOILERS
…how do you think she'll be able to pull of the post-SoS Catelyn? (assuming the series gets picked up)
RQuote Reply
Lady Stoneheart might not be all that hard to play, I guess. She'll have to be under a ton of make-up or special effects, and she can't really talk, so most of whatever communication she does with the audience will just be the look in her eyes, I suspect.
She's a great actress. I'm sure she'll be able to pull it off.
SilverstarQuote Reply
We haven't seen terribly much of Lady Stoneheart yet, but because of the reasons iterated by Silverstar I imagine she is challenging to portray. It's been a while since I read AFfC, but I think she should convey both malice and desperation. And judgement, above all.
For this I think Jennifer Ehle is near perfect. In fact I think she may do better work with Stoneheart than Catelyn.
meinaQuote Reply
Then this makes me ask the question again … Do we want the actors to read the books so that way they know what's to come and prepare or not read the books and go with their own interpretations and just react to the current situation(s) of their character … Cause post SoS, not alot of actors can pull off the subtle glances, facial jerks and reactions without dialoge … and Meina is right, there's alot more to Lady Stoneheart than we know … I hate saying this to GRRM … "PLEASE, PLEASE FINSIH DwD …. I NEED MY FIX, I NEED TO KNOWS WHAT HAPPENS!!!!" ….LOL
LadyNYC74Quote Reply
And I know its off topic, but the more I think of it the more I think he deserves the part, my vote for Michael Wincott for Bronn.
LadyNYC74Quote Reply
Seriously, how hard can it be portray lady Stoneheart? All you have to do is stare at people and keep your mouth shut. Zombies don't tend to show facial expressions of any kind.
@the people suggesting actors for Benjen Stark.
I can see some known actors doing cameos for characters that appear later in the series (Qhorin Halfhand, Balon Greyjoy, Craster, the red viper), once it has become a massive TV hit. A cameo for a character that appears in the pilot is extremely unlikely though.
Benjen has barely any screentime, so they will get some random unknown to play him.
yoenitQuote Reply
To be honest I could see them recasting Lady Stoneheart. Either because JE does not want to carry on or because HBO could get someone cheaper.
AnonymousQuote Reply
Spoiler alert, if those are needed:
I may be wrong but I didn't imagine e.g. Beric Dondarrion, another resurrected character, as an expressionless zombie. Should Stoneheart be? She may be disfigured, but is she *that* disfigured? Granted, she did spend a long time dead in a river.
As for actors reading the books, I think they need to have at least some idea of the background of the characters, which is revealed gradually in the books and of course plays important part in the nuances of their behavior. If not from the books, at least from somewhere.
meinaQuote Reply
There hasn't been a thread of posts in the comments yet that hasn't gone off topic, so i dont think we all need to worry that much about that.
LegionQuote Reply
"I may be wrong but I didn't imagine e.g. Beric Dondarrion, another resurrected character, as an expressionless zombie. Should Stoneheart be? She may be disfigured, but is she *that* disfigured? Granted, she did spend a long time dead in a river."
She was dead longer than Beric was, and had her throat cut so can't talk. However, I don't know that I'd say she's expressionless. She's become a kind of avatar of vengeance and hatred, so I imagine a lot of that kind of thing burning in her eyes.
SilverstarQuote Reply
She's not a zombie, neither was Beric. Well, not a movie land zombie, no eating people and she can talk.
She certainly has emotions anyway – she hates everyone. Hate is a great emotion.
LegionQuote Reply
"what is this, a women's sewing circle? gaggle of geese? ciao suckers, too much ghey in here."
Says the guy named larry manifold beef. LOL!
FalconGK81Quote Reply
Sorry Guys…
the book says she looks vicious and her face is white liked curdled milk. it also says that her skin is soft and mushy but torn up like through a grater. But she is vicious and hurt. she speaks in a throaty(?) whisper… deep and dark… sort of grinding. she also has to be very scary.
AnonymousQuote Reply
A note on actors reading the books. I would be extremely surprised if the actors WEREN'T reading the books right now. There is background stuff to their respective characters that they need to know right away. So what if it only gets revealed to the reader later in the book(s)…
For example, Peter Dinklage should know that Tyrion had "the Tysha experience" and so on. Basically, Sean Bean should know who Jon's mother is as well :) but okay FINE, I understand if he doesn't. Ehle should definitely know ABOUT Lady Stoneheart, at least.
RQuote Reply
Guys…
to be more specific she has black blood, half her hair is gone, her skin is raked from her nails and bleeding, her neck is cut. but most importantly, her eyes are full of hate, and it seems that they are slightly crazy. Sorry I was going on memory before
Jon SnowQuote Reply
I wouldn't keep exactly to the books when it comes to Lady Stoneheart, For one, I won't have her claw her face up as bad as she did in the books, people need to fill sadness and shock and pity for her, they won't do it if she is a disfigured, ugly undead. I would have her scratch her face (not to severe) and start running outside screaming with anquish and madness. They run after her and catch up to her on the bridge (I forgot who strikes her) but she has enough of her wits to block the thrust to her throat partially and as she slumps against the baluster she is tossed over. That way when she is resurrected, she still retains some of her dignified beauty, she is scarred but not to much and has some vocal use left. She is still Catelyn her soul is there, she is undead, not a zombie but she has an unworldy, inhuman hatred for all those responsible. She still thinks and feels, remembers her conversation with Brienne. She just has no compassion for them. I have the impression she can still love (her children) but is really indifferent to most others. I never got the impression she was a total zombie, just a resurrected Catleyn who is sad, mad and out for blood.
AnonymousQuote Reply
sad, mad and out of blood = total zombie
AnonymousQuote Reply
I really like the look of Ehle. I think she'll make a great Catelyn. Yet another smart casting choice. The show looks like it will have a nice mix of well-knowns, not-so-well-knowns and unknowns.
dholdsQuote Reply
Obiviously larry has never beeen to a sewing circle….he is confused.
JaimeeQuote Reply
Anon @ 12.39
I'd approve of that.
SilverstarQuote Reply
I love the choice of Ehle! It's amazing how much has happened since the last time I checked this site! Very, very excited to have such a talented and respected actress aboard! Cheers.
On Larry the defector:
Perhaps Larry got kicked out of his town's weekly sewing circle sessions, was attacked by angry geese as a child, and is insecure about his sexuality.
AnonymousQuote Reply
I am apalled at some of these comments about Jennifer Ehle's beauty! I happen to think that Jennifer Ehle is a very beautiful woman, and has the grace, intelligence and the spark that anyone who plays a woman like Catelyn needs!
It is not true that she is not hot. Jennifer Ehle is very sexy. Why does Catelyn have to be commercially hot? What matters is that Catelyn has hot chemistry onscreen with Sean Bean! I'm sorry, but I doubt that I would be able to take Catelyn Tully Stark seriously if she was a size 2 with tits the size of watermelons and a flat ass.
Here is to women who glow from the inside out, not only with grace, intelligence and beauty, but have curves too!
Loana-NoemiQuote Reply
…but have curves too!
Yes madam, I am agree with you. The Jennifer Ehle beauty sexy too. Next now, say, flat ass, tits size of watermelons, but curves. This no acceptable. No fatties, say, graceful. This shame.
Bopo the Telegraph Boy.Quote Reply
While I am not very familiar with the body of work of Ms. Ehle, I do vividly remember her from the recent movie "Pride And Glory" where she played opposite Edward Norton, Collin Farrell and Jon Voight.
She was really good in her role, in a movie that was otherwise quite all over the place. A solid cast and even a solid story were undone by a silly finale and some rather unfortunate detours from the main plot.
However she also had a role in the movie "Sunshine" where she acted alongside Ralph Fiennes, which is no easy feat. "Sunshine" was an unfortunately underrated and overlooked movie, but terrific nonetheless.
I am pretty sure that with her background in theatre she will make a great addition to the cast. Though many, me included, preferr British, Irish, Australian, New Zealander and Canadian actors to American ones, I would be shortsighted and foolish to completely ignore American actors and their abilities. For me "Deadwood" was proofpositive that there are many great American character actors, that are often overlooked and forgotten. Though Ian McShane was a titan in "Deadwood"'s cast (who can forget Al Swerengen), Timothy Oliphant, Brad Douriff and the rest of the cast were extraordinary as well.
Ms. Ehle is, I think, well positioned to do some great acting, with a great story, production and cast mates she should shine with no problem.
loco73Quote Reply
As far as I'm concerned, Jennifer Ehle is absolutely PERFECT! This series is really going to be FANTASTIC! (i.e. it BETTER get picked up!)
CatelynQuote Reply
At first I didn't know what to make of Ehle as Catelyn. But if you look at pictures of her online, you'll see she can look pretty hot, sexy, regal, elegant, motherly and intelligent. I liked her as Elizabeth in P&P miniseries, so I know she can act. The more I think it over, the better casting pick it becomes.
And I truly can't believe people wanted Gillian Anderson as Catelyn. Did you people even read the books?
AnonymousQuote Reply
I did. And I truly can't believe people still flaunt their preconceived notions about Anderson not having seen her non-XFiles roles. But whatever floats your boat.
AnonymousQuote Reply
Wow!
I absolutely love her in P&P AND she's got the perfect looks. Would have never thought of her but that's amazing!
AnonymousQuote Reply
@ Anon 11;32am, August 12th.
Actresses that can pull off a british accent "float my boat", especially in period films.
Also, actresses that don't bring loads of prior onscreen baggage, "preconceived notions" and allusions to other cinematic works make my boat glide quickly over large bodies of water. And I think that applies to most others as well (though perhaps not the boat metaphor).
-The Ninja
AnonymousQuote Reply
Robb up now. Huh, I thought he'd do Daenerys next. Maybe he's thinking of something appropriately smart alecky to say to all her poo-pooers.
BrienneQuote Reply